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WHAT’S INSIDE
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Upfront
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Garden Club: Green Thumbs
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From the Heart: To Breathe Again Experiences with Each Other Give Meaning to Life
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A Good Word: Most People are Truly Good Find the Positives as We Rise Up from Pandemic
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Entertainment: OKM Music Festival Annual Event Rescheduled for September
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Helping Hands: Sharing Love, Joy & Peace SpiritCHURCH Clearing Over $2.6M in Medical Debt
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Profile: Diamonds, Gems & Genius A Look at the Life of Bartlesville’s Tom Windle
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Our City: A History of Persevering Bartlesville Always Finds a Way to Overcome
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Feature: Pioneers of the Caney People Who Shaped the Foundation of Bartesville
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Healing: Together We Will Prevail
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Once Upon a Time: Memories of Something Special
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Feature Sponsor: Sutterfield Solutions Sutterfield Offers Financial Planning Solutions
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On the Osage: Shootin’ from the Hip
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Making a Difference: More Than Just Chicken Chick-fil-A Excited About Helping People Succeed
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Meet Your Writer: Maria Gus
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Discover Dewey: The Steel Rails of Dewey
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Kids’ Calendar
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Chick-fil-A Events Calendar
Tribute: Terrel Taylor Bartlesville Businessman Spent a Lifetime Giving
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Now You Know: Movies Under the Stars Bartlesville Once Boasted Three Drive-In Theaters
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Knowing Nowata: Early Beginnings
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Annual Events: Antique Show on Tap
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Looking Back: A Forgotten History Hero
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Funny You Should Ask: The New Normal
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Profiles of the Past: Gravy Over All Murphy’s Steak House Serving Up Comfort Food
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Green Space: Space is a Breath of Art Tower Center at Unity Square a Beautiful Venue
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Stay Strong: Return to Resilience Reframing Life During a Pandemic
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A Fresh Perspective: A Quieter Earth Perhaps Quarantine has Brought Us Closer JUNE 2020
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UPFRONT
upfront Welcome to June, friends. We are halfway through the year. The last six months have been life-changing for us, not only with bmonthly, but also personally. We were recently able to announce that our son, James, and his wife, Brittney, are going to make us a grandma and grandpa. We are beside ourselves knowing we are going to have a grandchild. I’m ready for all the Grandpa t-shirts I can buy ... of course with no sleeves.
this picture for the cover, I stared at it night after night to see how I could make it come alive — yet hold its integrity as a picture that is 140 years old. The history museum actually has the original picture, which is fascinating to me. What I began to see emerging from this picture taken in the early 1880s is what you are holding in your hands today. I believe it’s one of our best covers to date ... but Christy reminds me that I say that every month.
We also received great news that our daughter, Madison, is engaged and getting married in January. After January we will have four of our kids married. That is crazy to us because it seems just like yesterday we were driving them to school, practice, games, and the movies. Then one day you blink your eyes and all of them are getting married and actually becoming adults.
June is Father’s Day month. Besides the month of October, when our son Tyler passed away, this month affects me more than any other month. If you have read my stories over the past three years, you know I never knew my real father growing up — only to meet him at the age of 35, which at that time he was still denying I was his child. Christy wanted to know before we married so we took a DNA test and it was 99.9% that he was my father. Being a dad has changed everything about me over the last 27 years. I always said to myself growing up that I would never be that dad that never goes to ball games, school events, church events ... that I would be the dad to hug and tell your kids that you love them. I believe through all the times that I have let my kids down through my destructive habits one thing has always remained. Not one of my kids can ever say that they are not loved or adored by me. I hope all my kids know that until the day I go to Heaven ... they are my world and without them I would not be the man or father I am today. I want to thank Tyler, Blake, James, Mary, Madi, Parker, and Grace for never giving up on me and for the blessings and love you each have brought to my life. Happy Father’s Day! God Bless.
Volume XI Issue VI Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by
ENGEL PUBLISHING
Offices located in Downtown Bartlesville in the historic Price Tower 510 Dewey Ave, Suite 400, Bartlesville, OK 74003
For the state, Bartlesville, and our surrounding communities, the month of June looks to be the month where things are really going to start to open up. Our famous Kiddie Park is opening, swimming pools, churches, and best of all, restrictions will be lifted off of us. We are HAPPY. I’m not going to get into my personal views on what has happened over the last 12 weeks, so let’s just say we are ready to start living and quit walking in fear of what might happen or could happen. That plan is in someone else’s hands. For this month’s feature story and cover picture, we decided to bring you back to the very first settlement in Bartlesville, on the Caney River. Our pioneers dreamed big and laid the foundation for this great city to prosper and become what she is today. Debbie Neece again spent weeks writing and researching this fascinating story about the early days before we were a city. The cover photo I used is Mr. Bartles, his wife, Nannie, and their kids sitting and standing in front of their General Store in their home, which was on the second floor. I really wanted to see how it might have looked if we stepped back in time and saw it in color. There are so many moving parts to this cover. When you really start to look, you will see things you didn’t see the first time. One example is if you look really close to the left, you will see a man standing in the doorway. How many dogs do you see? Do you see the little boy to the right sitting down on the porch with his head in his hands, bored out of his mind? After I chose
P.O. Box 603, Bartlesville, OK 74005
www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly Publisher
Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com Art Direction
Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.com Director of Sales & Marketing
Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com Community Liaison
Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com Project Manager
Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com Calendar/Social Media
calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com Contributing Writers Lori Kroh, Maria Gus, Lori Roll, Tim Hudson, Ann-Janette Webster, Sarah Gagan, Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Rita Barnes, Kelly Bland, Jay Hastings, Bob Fraser, Carrol Craun, Brent Taylor, Lori Just, Mike Wilt, Jay Webster, Joe Todd. Contributing Photographers Bartlesville Area History Museum, Nowata History Museum
Resource Pages
Jessica Smith
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or otherwise, without prior permission of Bartlesville Monthly, Inc.
ABOUT THE COVER Photo provided by Bartlesville Area History Museum Creative Concept by Keith and Christy McPhail Design by Copper Cup Images
Keith & Christy McPhail, bMonthly managing editors, and their children JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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FROM THE HEART
To Breathe Again Experiences with Each Other Give Meaning to Our Lives by Lori Kroh It seems the last few months, being stuck inside our homes yet going outside to all of nature, did something. In the middle of somewhere, we missed our community. We are lost without the gathering of each other. We are left wanting for connection and certainty. We miss the comfort of a hug, greeting someone with a handshake or just saying “Hi” at the grocery store when bumping into one another. I didn’t realize how much a warm cup of coffee meant to me until I could no longer hold my mug and share a smile at The Outpost. I never knew the joy of waiting in line until it became a dream for my family. We just wanted to sit on the red leather seats at Murphy’s and stare at the walls of photographs that we have seen for so many years. I will never again take for granted the long line at Braums for a single dip cone with my kids. For now, we only dream about using a money machine without gloves. Nothing is the same and everything changes, and even though life isn’t certain — we certainly do like our routines. Lately, we wait and see what each day will bring ... and not knowing is perhaps the worst. The unknown comes in and settles in your soul and leaves us with a lot of time to think about our lives. Perhaps we have learned what truly matters and that how we live affects one another far and near. Unknowns bring up our fears, force our faith, and guide us into grace. And so it is with matters of patience ... it’s the waiting that changes us. I always thought waiting on God was like peering out your window as you watch the raindrops fall. You sit and watch until the blue skies come out again and realize the rain made all the difference. During the storm, you don’t know how long it will last or how bad it could be ... just looking closely at the raindrops focuses you on the experience. You see what happens in slow motion as a raindrop trickles down a window and you wait for it all to be over. Patience says this moment too shall pass. Our lives have been in slow motion and we are still waiting out the storm looking for the blue skies. It’s the waiting that changes us. As others noted their calendar days, no one knew mine were marked off by a tally of tears. l read a proverb once and it said, “When someone you love dies, a 1000 days will pass before your next breath.” It has been exactly that for me ... my Dad passed on June 15th, 2017. This was literally right before Father’s Day and a month to the day that he and my mom retired back to Bartlesville. They came back to where they raised their daughters and to the people they knew the best. It was always home to them and to us girls ... and in a way, his passing was the defining moment that moved me back home. I realized, in the deepest of grief, what I needed
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most was community. I couldn’t explain it to others other than I have to move back to Bartlesville. My community. My home. Much like what has happened lately, the world as I knew it ... stopped. When grief hit, it took every breath away. All of my heart closed up and all my tears flowed out. I was changed in many ways for the better, yet normal was never to be had again. It’s been over 1000 days and I began to breathe again. The long days filled with longer nights of waiting on God showed me that in this life what matters is so simple. It’s true love, a close community, and the experiences we have with each other that give meaning to our days. Even now, the days have passed. Our tears lessen, our memories grow stronger, and it’s the waiting that changes us. Let’s call that true love. Never again we will take for granted this experience for our community, because deep inside ourselves we just want to breathe again.
AND CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU! Your comfort is our #1 priority, so look for:
• Touchless Pay Options • No-Touch Menus • Social Distance Seating (50% capacity) • Employees Wearing Masks • Continuous Cleaning & Sanitizing You can still order online or call ahead for Curbside Carry-Out! We’re back to our regular hours and hope to see you soon!
100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd • (918) 214-8777 • hideawaypizza.com JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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ENTERTAINMENT
OKM Music Festival
Popular Event Rescheduled for September by Ann-Janette Webster During any other June, our community would be celebrating the opening of OKM’s annual festival. But like so many things these days, raising the curtain on top-notch live music performances will have to wait a bit longer. In the best interest of safety, the team at OKM has postponed the 36th annual celebration to September 410, but assures 2020 festival-goers they have much to look forward to this fall. Chairman of the Board Mary Lynn Mihm says postponing the festival, which hosts musicians and guests from across the country, seemed like the most appropriate response. “We are fully committed to health and safety, and preparations have already begun to ensure the safety of our guests, artists, and community in September,” said Mihm. “Our event safety committee will help us implement protocols to protect all involved, including social distancing efforts, hand-sanitizing stations at each venue, masks may be encouraged, audience seating will likely be more spread out, and ticket sales may be limited for smaller venues. Other measures may be implemented as they become necessary to ensure everyone’s enjoyment and safety.” As an enhancement to this year’s festival, OKM staff also hopes to provide live streaming of their many performances for those unable to attend due to virus-related issues. The 2020 festival’s key performances will feature a wide variety of high-caliber artists from several genres, including Dallas String Quartet, Tina Guo, Verona Quartet, Grady Nichols, the Clark Gibson Quintet, Balsam
Range, and Wynona Wang (formerly Yi-Nuo Wang). This year’s Woolaroc Outdoor Concert in September will feature Dallas Brass, a fan favorite from 2019. “While we know that many of our guests may be disappointed about having to wait a little bit longer until September, I can guarantee that our wonderful lineup this year is well worth the wait,” said Ryan Martin, OKM’s Director of Marketing & Social Media. “OKM’s slogan this year is ‘music that is personal,’ and between our diverse performances, wonderful children’s lineup, the venues — both outdoors and indoors — we are offering guests a personal festival experience that truly has something for everyone.” A host of free community showcase events will also take place this year, including performances from Keeli Droege, Rachel Foote, father/son duo Ryan & Ryan, the Oklahoma Strings Quartet, Ad Lib Singers, and trumpeter Jeff Shadley, just to name a few. Local youth can enjoy activities including music and art story-time, master classes, a magic show, and the always-popular Prince and Princess Tea, with harpist Kathy Stewart. A complete schedule of events for the 36th annual music festival can be found at okmmusic.org. OKM can also be reached at 918-336-9900 for any questions, including ticket-handling options. “We are so thrilled to be able to showcase our talented friends and artists this coming September, during a time where everyone can use a little music for the soul,” said Mihm. “What an amazing way to bring awareness to the arts and bring a smile to everyone’s face.”
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auto
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Monday-Friday 8 to 5. Sat by appointment only | Serving Bartlesville since 1990
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PROFILE
Diamonds, Gems & Genius A Look at the Life of Bartlesville’s Tom Windle by Sarah Gagan Diamonds may be the hardest substance on earth, but how do they stack up compared to the strength of innovation found in the hearts and minds of man? For Tom Windle, bringing revolutionary ideas to life is as natural as cutting a flawless diamond out of a rough stone. He’s a master at both. Tom, the eldest of five children, grew up on the family farm southwest of Granite, Oklahoma. In addition to farming, both parents were teachers — his father was a history and science teacher and his mother taught home economics until Tom was born. As Tom worked the cotton fields of Southwest Oklahoma alongside his father, he dreamed of someday becoming an agriculture teacher. He was one of only two students at his high school to achieve the prestigious status of FFA State Farmer, making a career in agriculture a logical path. Tom began farming after high school while attending Cameron State University in Lawton, where he received his degree in Agricultural Engineering. While his first sweet potato crop was successful, it was a late delivery to a contracted gro10
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cery store that would end his brief farming career. His creative innovation, however, was sharp as ever, and thriving. Early into his agriculture pursuit, Tom designed a revolutionary pesticide sprayer for the cotton farms that was much more efficient than the airplanes used at that time. His early sprayer model is remarkably similar to the sprayers that are used for cotton crops today. With extended family in Bartlesville, Tom came to town after college in search of steady work, and began what would be an 18-year career at Phillips Petroleum Company. His earliest responsibilities at the local research center involved conducting lab tests on plastic products produced at the newly built polyethylene plant in Houston, Texas. After two years, he supervised a small group responsible for testing plastic pipe and related products. His ingenuity led him to produce better, more reliable products, which resulted in authoring several patents for Phillips. Plastic pipe and other products Tom perfected while at Phillips are still in use today.
PROFILE During his years at Phillips Petroleum, Tom often thought of the variety of rocks and gemstones he found in the tilled soil of his childhood. It was during a trip to his parents’ home in Granite that he had the opportunity to meet a group of “rock hounds” that mined the sandy fields for stones. He saw their cutting and polishing equipment and his creativity took over. He soon invented a quality machine that could cut and polish raw rocks and gems. He began manufacturing the machines and proceeded to sell 1500 units to others in the lapidary business. Through correspondence courses, Tom became a Graduate Gemologist and Jeweler, and he and his wife Ula opened Windle’s Rock and Jewelry in the garage of their newly-built home. As his manufacturing and retail business grew, he knew it was time to transition from Phillips Petroleum to a full-time gemology career. He left Phillips in 1975 and began construction of the current Windle’s Rock and Jewelry building. The three-story “A” frame building that Tom envisioned on Highway 75, south of town soon became a reality. Tom’s creative genius was woven in each step of the planning and building process, from hand selecting each post, to designing and installing the energy efficient solar panels that would heat and power the building for about the same cost as running six light bulbs. The new building was open for business in late 1975. Tom always had a curiosity surrounding alternate energy sources — researching them and creating them. During a Hawaii vacation, Tom watched waves crashing against the rocks. His mind set to work on how to harness the tidal power, and Wave Energy Inc. was born. The energy conversion system utilized 8foot diameter floats, flat on the bottom and domed on the top, that sat on the ocean’s surface. Beneath the waves, a springloaded pump was moored to the ocean floor. “As a wave lifts the float, it stretches the spring. During the troughs between waves, the spring pulls back down, as it contracts it pumps water into a turbine to generate electricity. Cables carry the electricity to the shore,” Tom explains. Other attempts to harness wave energy have been attempted previously, however, they did not survive stormy seas. The Wave Energy Inc. model proved to be the exception, remaining steady even at 10-foot tides. Tom spent five years working with Scrips Institution of Oceanography as they sponsored the device testing. This was a very promising viable alternative energy source, leading to patents in multiple nations. Currently, similar energy systems are in use in other countries. Because of his inventive originality, Tom has been featured in Inventor’s Digest and Popular Science magazines and has been a highlighted speaker at various national conventions. Tom and Ula have four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Tom’s love of
gems and jewels has now expanded to three generations. Their son, Harold, and grandson, Bryce, are both jewelers in Arkansas; and their daughter, Tammy, is the manager of the Bartlesville rock and jewelry shop. In addition to being a gifted jeweler and inventor, Tom is also a published author and teacher. He has taught several 13-week seminars utilizing his published work on Biblical Covenant. He has served his church as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Elder, and has made mission trips to Canada, England, and Australia. Together, he and Ula have traveled to the Holy Land, Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt on church-related trips. Tom holds a love of history and genealogy, and is an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution. His 4th greatgrandfather, John Sevier (1745-1815) was an American soldier, frontiersman, politician, and one of the founding fathers of the state of Tennessee. Sevier played a leading role in Tennessee's pre-statehood period, both militarily and politically, and he was elected the state's first governor in 1796. Tom served as President of the Sevier Family Association for four years and published the Sevier Family News for over 10 years. In addition to all these life accomplishments, Tom is a veteran who served our country. He served two years with the ROTC while at Cameron State, and six years with the US Army Reserves 430th Field Artillery Battalion as Communications Chief. Abraham Lincoln, the only US president to hold a patent, is quoted as saying, “The US patent system adds the fuel of interest to the fire of genius in the discovery and production of new and useful things.” Tom Windle’s “fire of genius” has authored many “new and useful things.” May his ambitious and determined curiosity continue to fuel the interest of us all. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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918-766-3812 GCPetCremation@aol.com
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Pioneers of the Caney
The People Who Shaped the Foundation of Bartlesville by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum In the October, 2019 issue of the Bartlesville Monthly Magazine, I took our readers on a journey of “A Time of Wilderness…A Time of Turmoil.” The story began with the Louisiana Purchase and introduced readers to the events leading to the settlement of the Silver Lake and the people who called the area home. But, more was happening in Indian Territory… During the 1800s, Native Americans lived on this land — they hunted the abundance of game and fished the Caney River for its bounty. Trees were few and trails aimlessly crisscrossed bluegrass prairie. And, white men allowed to trade in the Cherokee Nation were required to be married to an Indian maiden, adopted into the tribe, or purchase a trade permit. Indian Territory was sparsely inhabited and freely 14
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roamed by the likes of Osage Chief Black Dog. His trail from Claremore passed his Silver Lake hunting camp and proceeded north crossing the Caney River near the current Adams Boulevard Bridge, north to cross the river at the horseshoe bend, and then followed the river west to cross Black Dog Ford at the confluence of Butler Creek and the Little Verdigris — later known as the Caney River — just south of Oak Park. Fording the Caney River safely
required a rock or shale bottom to cross, thus these locations.
At Black Dog Ford, James Leontine Butler, an intermarried Cherokee, established an early trading post and added the Little Verdigris post office December 1859. When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Butler recruited a unit of Cherokee Mounted Rifles that included Will Rogers’ father, Clement Rogers. Confederate Captain Butler served under General Stand Watie and after the Civil War, he retired to Texas and the post Camping on the Caney office closed. During the Civil War, former Indian Agent turned Confederate Colonel, Douglas H. Cooper, was tasked with forcing Creek Indian Chief Opothlyahola’s band of free blacks, runaway slaves, Creek, Chickasaw and Seminole Indians north to Fort Row, KS. A series of
SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
three Indian Territory battles — Round Mound at Yale, Chusto-Talasah at Sperry and Chustenahlah near Skiatook — called the Trail of Blood on Ice, resulted in a Civil War skirmish on Black Dog Creek as Opothlyahola’s band fled to Kansas. Winter hampered their travel with frostbite, hypothermia and starvation. In the wake of battle, the land was scarred and soaked in blood. Oklahoma was not yet a state — this was still Indian Territory. Once slaves escaped into I.T., there was a slight sense of protection from law officers and bounty hunters under the wing of the Five Tribes as sovereign nations. It was not a coincidence the battle occurred at Black Dog Creek. The free blacks and runaway slaves traveling with Chief Opothlyahola were aware of the “Underground Railroad” trail that passed Gap Road and Silver Lake, following the Black Dog Trail along the Caney River to freedom in Kansas. New York born and Kansas transplant, Nelson Franklin Carr joined the Civil War in 1861 and served with the Sixth Kansas Calvary. In March 1862, Carr was discharged due to malaria which
required several hospitalizations, one at the Kansas “Old Soldier’s Home” where he met Reverend Joseph Sykes, a Methodist minister, who told of buying provisions prior to the Civil War at a millsite below the Kansas line, along a bend in the Verdigris River. Recorded deep in Indian Territory history, Georgia transplant, Joel Mayes Bryan arrived in 1832 and owned at least ten stores, two gristmills and the Union Salt
Works in the Cherokee Nation. Historians believe the Caney River millsite could have belonged to Joel Bryan or the earlier mentioned Butler family. Carr settled at Oswego, KS where he was postmaster for a year, operated a trading post and married Cherokee Sarah Ann Rogers. In 1867, the Delaware Indians removed to the Cherokee Nation from their Kansas lands and the Carr’s moved to the Black Dog Ford of the Caney River. Approximately 300 yards north of the crossing, Carr established his home, trading post and sawmill. After an 1868 Indian raid left his trading post ravaged, Carr turned to farming corn, but remembered the conversation with Reverend Sykes and set out to trade at a different location. Finding the millsite ruins Sykes spoke of, Carr went to work establishing a corn gristmill and sleuth/millrace at the narrow neck of the Caney River horseshoe bend, just north of the current Cherokee Bridge.
NELSON FRANKLIN CARR
When the Osage moved southward, Chieftain Hard Rope’s band camped on the south side of the Caney for sev-
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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
Carr Bartles Millsite
eral months prior to Carr’s north side arrival in 1870. Hard Rope vacated when Carr settled. Carr continued to develop his millsite until Jacob Bartles made a proposition Carr could not refuse — sell the millsite for $1,000. The sale was finalized March 20, 1875. Described as a wise, visionary, Carr continued to farm, ranch and develop oil holdings until retiring in Bartlesville. Carr and Bartles were not strangers; both were Union Civil War veterans of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. After the war, Bartles returned to Wyandotte County, Kansas and married Nannie Journeycake Pratt, daughter of Delaware Chief and Baptist
Rev. Journeycake and the church he built. 16
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Minister Charles Journeycake. Nannie was a widow with three young daughters, Nonie, Ella May and Ida. They lived on Nanny’s farm where their son Charles was born and died 13 months later. When Reverend Journeycake moved to establish a mission church at Silver Lake, the Bartles followed, arriving in 1873, just missing the mass exodus of the Osage tribe who moved to the Osage Reservation and established Pawhuska at Bird Creek. Upon arrival in the Cherokee Nation, Jacob and Nannie Bartles remarried according to the “laws and customs of the Cherokee people” granting Jacob trading rights in Indian Territory. Later, in 1876, Bartles purchased citizenship for his three step-daughters giving them the rights and privileges of Cherokee Citizens at a cost of $852.00. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, $852 in 1876 is equivalent in purchasing power of about $20,552.71 in 2020.
Seeking greater trade opportunities, Bartles moved to establish a trading post at Turkey Creek in 1874, where son Joseph Bartles was born December that year. In March 1951, the Indian Territory Pioneer Association and Don M. Tyler of the Dewey Portland Cement Company placed a cement monument at the site of the Turkey Creek Post Office at Bartlesville, I.T. The historic marker faces west due to the trail that past the trading post at that point. Although located on private property, south of the Edgewood and Frank Phillips Blvd. intersection, behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, you can still visit this site. In 1875, Bartles purchased the Carr gristmill and began improvements. In
SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE Interior of the Bartles Store
1907, he was quoted as saying, “I had twenty yoke of work cattle and I put eighteen yoke to work hauling stone. I kept them at it from fall till grass came. Most of the stone came from the Blue Mound quarry in the Osage Nation. There were some stone that weighed two tons. I had a pile of stone that looked as if it was big enough to build the entire mill. But we used up all of the stone before the foundation was completed. It had cost me about $4,000 to get that far. It had 32,000 perch of stone in it. Part of the mill machinery was hauled overland from Vinita and part from Coffeyville. The keystone on the arch of the original millrace bore the date 1877.”
his 25’x100’ two-story building with a general store on the base floor and living
During the construction, Bartles discovered the millsite was a “way station” on the mail hack route from Coffeyville to points south near Tulsa. As an added bonus, he was aware his Turkey Creek trading post was located on the U.S. postal service “Star Route.” By 1871, Vinita was the source of Star Route service for this portion of the Cherokee Nation, when the railroad reached that point. The assignment of postmaster was a political endeavor. Bartles’ application arrived during President Rutherford Hayes’ administration and an explosive postal corruption scandal. His assignment arrived May 6, 1879, but shortly thereafter, the U.S. postal service was reorganized resulting in the elimination of the three level contract bidding system for Star Route mail delivery.
The eight-foot drop from the west side of the millrace to the east hastened the water flow and increased the grinding power of the mill. Bartles enhanced the height of the Caney River dam to create a greater force. In addition, he added an office to the north end of Carr’s mill building, more than doubled the south side of the mill, installed fine burrs to grind flour and a dynamo generator to supply electric power to the millsite. This became the first commercial flour mill in Indian Territory. He also installed a sawmill north of the millsite to supply walnut lumber for
quarters with a meeting room above.
YOUNG JOE BARTLES
The postal service in those days was handled by the Star Route system, a name adopted in 1859, when the United States was divided into postal districts. Each district was headed by a District Contractor, who sublet to local contractors, who employed carriers. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
The Journeycake and Bartles families in the garden between the Bartles Mill and Bartles Store/Home taken about 1880.
Bartles was an entrepreneur with business dealings in Nowata, Alluwe, Claremore, Pawhuska, Caney, Milltown near present Catoosa and several other sites and states. He planned to retain the Turkey Creek trading post while establishing his Caney River settlement. However, in 1880, after the Star Route disappeared, he moved the Turkey Creek trading post building and post office to his JACOB BARTLES
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Caney River settlement which was on the Coffeyville postal route to the Tulsa area. Bartles brought cabinet makers to the millsite to fashion furniture for the family home and the Turkey Creek building became the furniture shop, which was later moved to Dewey as the Dewey World newspaper office. It seemed nothing could slow Bartles’ prosperity. He bankrolled settlers to grow wheat which was ground at his mill and the profits rolled in. He created electric power, an icehouse for storage of ice cut from the Caney River and water works with running water, which greatly pleased Nannie. He added implement sheds, several small homes, a hotel (later rented by S.A. Thurston), and a blacksmith and wagon shop.
Inspired by Nannie Bartles’ religious upbringing, the Union Sunday school was held on the second floor of the Bartles store/home, where the Christian, Baptist and Methodist Churches were organized. Jacob Bartles’ northside community continued to grow but the population never reached the required 200 residents to become an incorporated town — an award that was obtained by the competitive settlement on the southside of the Caney River. After a series of losses to the Johnstone and Keeler southside community and floods that greatly upset Nannie, Bartles made arrangements to move north to his wheat field and establish Dewey, I.T. in 1899. Happy wife, happy life! Moving the one-hundred foot long store building was a feat of engineering genius. According to Joe Bartles, the move took six months and goods were sold every day of the move, except Sunday. Although the move took a little trial and error to begin, soon the plan was laid. Jacob Bartles’ traveled to Joplin to get railroad rails and ties to create his own rail system to move the store. The building moved about 400-yards a day as horse teams pulled the large building down the railroad grade to the new townsite of Dewey.
SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
The Pioneer arrived in Dewey in the fall of 1899, and Bartles also had this massive three-story Victorian hotel built across the street.
In the meantime, the future town of Dewey was a beehive of activity in anticipation of the store’s arrival. Bartles had workers constructing a half basement and foundation for the store building to rest upon while his massive three-story Victorian hotel was being built across the street to the north. The large store building, soon called the Pioneer Building, arrived in Dewey in the fall of 1899 to wide-eyed onlookers.
After a very brief period for repairs, residents living on the south side of the Caney River were again lulled to sleep by the rumbles of the mill wheels grinding flour throughout the night. Jacob Muller leased and operated the Bartles’ mill as the “Bartlesville Roller Mill” producing “High Patent” flour. In 1904, Muller flew into a jealous rage, shot his wife six times
THE SHELLER MILL
and was imprisoned for life. The mill continued to operate through 1907 under the name “Riverside Roller Mill” with Carl Washington Hymer as manager and then sat quiet for a number of years. Herb Sheller came to Bartlesville as a sign painter in 1903. He established the Sheller Sign System in Bartlesville and was well known for the finer signs on businesses and office doors. One of his early hobbies was photography and he took a photograph of the Carr/Bartles mill from the Johnstone Park area. Sheller’s photo has become the supporting documentation of the west entrance of the millrace showing the dynamo generator and, most importantly, has allowed us to uncover the operation of the mill which he described from his personal observations: “The mill wheel run flat under floor.” Which indicates the mill operated as a water turbine, thus no visible mill wheel. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
The natural limestone dam on the Caney helped generate power for the mills along the river.
In September 1908, the County Commissioners rented the old thirteen-room “Bartles’ Hotel,” previously operated as the Thurston Hotel, for $25 a month, for use as a county poor house. Reportedly, Joe Bartles had been offered over 1.2 million dollars for his
father’s mill and out buildings consisting of 35-year old seasoned walnut lumber; however, the childhood sentiment was closer to his heart than the cash. He politely declined, saying: “Boys, as she stands there, she isn’t worth tearing down; she brings in no rent, but my father meant’r to stand, and til the timbers rot away, she is not for sale.” However, after Joe’s marriage to Miss Edith Ross of Oklahoma City on June 18, 1913, he had a change of heart. That September, Bartles had the mill dismantled and the walnut lumber was hauled to Dewey for use in his new home. John Demetry Bitinis was a Greek immigrant who arrived in Indian Territory in 1906 and his early employment was selling ice-cream downtown from a horse-drawn wagon. He married Eunice Warehime in 1913 and the couple purchased the “Old Bartles farm” from Joe Bartles in 1923. The Bitinis’ and their five children lived in the old Bartles’ Thurston Hotel on the east side of Bartles Road while building their home on the Bartles’ store/home foundation along the river bank. Veshelo John "Shela" Bitinis, the last of the six Biti-
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nis children was born September 1925 in Bartles’ Thurston Hotel. Their home construction began during the record 1926 flooding, “which left Bartlesville an island,” and they completed the building early spring 1927. One of the grinding stones from the old Bartles’ mill
SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE
Many of the early area leaders had service in the Civil War in common.
became a doorstep for their home. The when the silence of the early morn was dering and smoking. They pushed the doorstep was in the care of Shela Bitinis broken by the whaling sirens of the debris into the basement.” Ward in her later years, while When the dust settled in Indian Territory, Jacob Bartles, One of the most important another set of stones are on exhibit Nelson Carr and Joseph Sykes had much in common. All business, political and social at Dewey’s Tyler Memorial Library. three served in the Civil War, all three settled in centers in Washington County Bartlesville after the war and all three were recorded Living and working along the was Bartles’ Pioneer Building. among the original 95 members of the 1893 Bartlesville Caney River as self-employed The building held years of memGrand Army of the Republic (GAR). Comrades for life. gardeners, the Bitinis’ supplied ories and the half basement was their own vegetable stand along full of Joe Bartles’ memorabilia — Bartles Road and the Warehime open-air early photographs, taxidermy trophies, Dewey and Bartlesville Fire Departments vegetable stand across from Murphy’s family heirlooms and the remnants of Joe advancing towards the fully engulfed Steak House on Frank Phillips Blvd. DurBartles’ WWI airplane factory. All lost! Pioneer Building — Bartles’ store/home. ing the Great Depression, the Bitinis’ The firemen worked throughout the day In the years that followed, the corner employed local workers to help feed area and into the following day to extinguish has been occupied by the Bowersock needy families from their garden in Barone of the “hottest fires in history.” The Grocery store and currently the Tom Mix tles’ grove. solid walnut building, one of Washington Museum. County’s oldest landmarks, had stood During the life of John Bitinis, “Bitinthe test of time and travel, but succumbs isville” was a thriving business to carelessness. community with a BBQ restaurant, Bitinis Service Station, Bitinisville Night Club and the Johnstone Park Tourist Camp with cottage rental for overnight guests. Shela also operated a very “lucrative root beer stand” at that location. After John’s death in 1958, the Bitinis “empire” fell to ruins, ending nearly a century of “Pioneers of the Caney.” ***** But one more thing! It was a blustery winter morning on December 6, 1950
Local resident, C.R. Shriver witnessed the event and said, “The Pioneer Building was a tavern with a grill and rooms rented upstairs. Someone had an open flame stove that caught the building on fire. I vividly remember the building burning; it was bitterly cold, the fire bell went off and we watched from the old bank building corner. The building was completely consumed. The walnut lumber just burned and burned. A week later it was still smol-
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FEATURE SPONSOR
Sutterfield Solutions Sutterfield Offers Comprehensive Financial Planning Solutions by Lori Roll From the beginning, Trevor and Shelly Sutterfield, founders of Sutterfield Financial Group Inc., have called Bartlesville home. Both born and raised in Bartlesville, they made the easy decision to locate the national headquarters of their company in their hometown. Trevor, President and CEO of SFG said, “The Bartlesville community is near and dear to our hearts and we love being able to serve our local community on many levels.” Shelly, Chief Financial Officer, agreed. “Our local clients, individuals, and businesses are very important to us.” The Sutterfields founded SFG in 1995, and are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. “Our mission has basically always been to assist our clients in every aspect of their financial lives. Over the years we have expanded on that mission to include our core purpose, which is to serve and deliver ‘plus one.’ That means we are always trying to go above and beyond when helping our clients,” Trevor said. New clients are most often drawn to SFG by word of mouth, creating an immediate level of trust important in the financial planning business. The process begins with a conversation between SFG and potential clients. “We find that the best way to understand their needs and goals is to just talk through where they currently are and where they want to be. Many times, by just speaking with them and learning about their lives, we identify those needs and goals and create a plan to achieve them,” Trevor said. Sutterfield Financial Group Inc. is a full-service financial planning company offering professional investment planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, tax and accounting, and business and estate planning. During their early years, the Sut-
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Trevor & Shelly Sutterfield pictured back in 1995.
terfields recognized the need for comprehensive financial planning services. “Our business has grown based on the needs of our clients. The services we have added have been to help clients achieve their financial goals,” said Trevor. “Because of the expansion of our services, we offer a full range of financial planning for individuals, families, and businesses.”
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T R I C O U N T Y T E C H . E D U | 61 0 1 N O W ATA R O A D , B A R T L E S V I L L E , O K | 9 1 8 . 3 3 1 . 3 3 3 3 Tri County Tech does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Tara Stevens, Compliance Of昀cer, 6101 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK, Tara.Stevens@TriCountyTech.edu
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
More Than Just Chicken Chick-fil-A Excited About Helping People Succeed
by Maria Gus Chase Allcott is not in the chicken business. The owner of Bartlesville’s Chick-fil-A believes what they do is much bigger than chicken sandwiches. “We’re not just a restaurant,” said Allcott. “We’re here for our team, and we hope that our team cares about the community and it just continues that way.” Chick-fil-A Bartlesville has been open since January of 2018, and from the beginning Allcott has encouraged his team members to apply for the CFA Remarkable Futures Scholarship. In the first year they had one team member apply and win. Two team members were recognized the following year. For 2020, six CFA Bartlesville team members have been designated as Leadership Scholars and will receive a $2500 scholarship. Helping his team members succeed is something Allcott is passionate about. Not only has he encouraged them to apply, but he has also helped provide them with tools to submit the best application they can. “We’ve just built on it every year,” said Allcott. To hear Allcott talk about these team members is to listen to someone truly excited about seeing people succeed. For Chickfil-A, caring about the community is a priority. In Bartlesville, team members are also encouraged to grow in self-improvement and working well with others, too. This year’s team of scholarship recipients represent four different high school and homeschool programs. The students will attend five various schools of higher education. Allcott is very proud of the fact that they represent so many different areas. The distinguished scholarship recipients are Bartlesville High School’s Britney Sweat, who will attend Coffeyville Community College; Wesleyan 24
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Christian School graduate Carly Biesiadecki, who will attend Oklahoma Wesleyan University; homeschool student Derek Herrmann, who will attend the University of Oklahoma; and Paige Smith from Caney Valley High School, who will attend Independence Community College. College students Hannah Wickham, from Rogers State University, and Kaleb Haskell, from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, were also scholarship award winners. In order to be considered for the scholarship, CFA team members not only fill out an application, but they also have to receive a recommendation from their operator. After submitting their transcripts and essays, Allcott then rates his team members on various categories, including whether or not they’re an asset and how they achieve their goals. Fortunately, Allcott had plenty of great things to share. “I think what sets them apart is that we have some core values here at the store,” said Allcott. “I’ve seen all of them display humility, and they are hungry to improve themselves and the business.” The Chick-fil-A Bartlesville team is always looking for people that are humble, hungry, and smart. For Allcott, these six scholarship winners not only exemplify these values, they are also incredible representatives of the community. For Allcott, selling chicken sandwiches continues to be an opportunity to invest in the people of the community, through service and skills. “They learn leadership here and walk away forever marked as a leadership scholar from Chick-fil-A,” said Allcott.
JUNE CALENDAR SPONSORED BY 6
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Hotrods Customs and Donuts 9 AM; Downtown Dewey
First Wesleyan Youth Summer Splash
Kiddie Park Opening Day
6 PM; First Wesleyan Church. Join us for a water fight, water balloons, worship, honoring seniors by dunking them in dunk tank
7 PM; Kiddie Park Kiddie Park will open for its full season June 2nd. Tuesday thru Thursday 7pm to 9:30pm Friday and Saturday 7pm to 10pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
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Frank Phillips Home Re-Opens 10 AM; Frank Phillips Home Bob Fraser, Chief Executive Officer of The Frank Phillips Foundation, announced today the plans for the re-opening of Woolaroc and The Frank Phillips Home. Our plan is to re-open The Frank Phillips Home on Wednesday, June 3 and we will limit the size of each tour in order to insure safe social distancing. Our number one focus continues to be the health and safety of our employees, docents and guests. Employees who are dealing with the public will be required to wear masks and while we encourage guests to do the same, it will not be required. Wednesday- Friday tours at 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm; Saturday tours at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm
17 Bartlesville Farmers Market Opening Day 8 AM; Frank Phillips Park
29th Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale 8AM; Washington County Fairgrounds The 29th Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale at the Washington County Fair Building will feature 100 booths, dealers from 6 states. Great variety of treasures and prices! Items will include advertising, quilts, decorating, paper, glass, pottery, furniture, country, retro, western, primitive, toys, linens, books, post cards, holiday, mercantile, vintage and lots, lots more! Largest one day show in the area, see it all under one roof! Food, music and demonstrations available during the day. Admission $4.
Summer-Long VBS 5:45 PM; Bartlesville First Baptist Church "All Summer Long" VBS at FBC! Ages Preschool-6th Grade, Rallies, crafts, music, recreation, classes, prizes and the Gospel proclaimed! Your Kids will NOT want to miss out on this! Every Wednesday Night from June 17th-July 15th from 5:45-7:45.
Frontier Pool Opening Day 12 PM; Frontier Pool JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Still Open For You Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm Friday 8:00am - Noon
"Building a Healthy Community One Individual at a Time." William Davito, DO
Mark Erhardt, DO
Daniel Holdman, MD Elizabeth Sherrock, MD Janice Shippy APRN, DNP Donald Simmons, MD M. Ryan Vaclaw, MD
Saturday 9:00am - Noon
Se Habla Español
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Sick visits for patients suffering from potentially infectious or transmissable conditions from 1:30-5pm only, Mon-Thur.
918-331-9979 www.primarycareassociatesbartlesville.com
June 27-30 OKWU Soccer Team/ID Day Camp
First Wesleyan Family Fun Night 6 PM; Sooner Jr Miniature Golf Free Admission
First Wesleyan Black Light Night 9 PM; First Wesleyan Church
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Summer-Long VBS
June 22-24
OKWU Baseball Camp
5:45 PM; Bartlesville First Baptist Church See June 17 event for info.
9 AM; OKWU baseball fields $60 per player Register at okwu.edu.
First Wesleyan Youth Kahoot
OKWU Soccer Development Camp
6 PM; First Wesleyan Church
6 PM; OKWU Soccer Field The OKWU Development Soccer Camp is designed to help the young player, develop his or her soccer skills in a fun and exciting learning environment. The camp format features the above trainings, which includes skill development, games, and competition. For Aages 5-16. Cost is $85.
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OKWU Pitching Camp
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FREE Kids Fishing Day
9 AM; OKWU baseball fields $30 per player Register at okwu.edu.
9 AM; Oologah Lake
9 AM; OKWU Soccer Field The OKWU Day Camp is replacing the OKWU residential this year. This camp is used for teams to work together, individuals to get extra development and recruits to be seen by our college staff. Participants will be trained in sessions that give them an inside look at what will be expected at the next level. OKWU coaches will make up the experienced staff, while participants of our camps will also be able to get to know and work alongside college players from our current roster throughout the days, as those players will assist in drills and demonstrations. June 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th Ages: 10-18 Cost: $225
“Friendly dealers, great showroom and vehicles, very accommodating. Really appreciate being called by name.” — Matt from Wichita, KS
Hwy 75 in Bartlesville • (918)333-8010 • gopatriotauto.com
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JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR
Know of an upcoming event you would like to see on our calendar? Visit us at www.bartlesvillemonthly.com to submit a free listing!
Tue, Jun 1
Wed, Jun 2
Sat, Jun 20
9 AM
Times Vary
8 AM
Animal Friends Art Exhibit
Frank Phillips Home Re-Opens
Bartlesville Community Center
Frank Phillips Home
Osage County Cattlemen’s Ranch Tour
300 SE Adams Blvd.
1107 SE Cherokee Ave
Osage County Fairgrounds
The exhibit features 40 new works of impressionist art by David Lawrence Cade. It is all wildlife art, mostly endangered species. The exhibit will be open on weekdays through June 29. For additional information, contact Lisa Welch at 918336-2787.
Frank Phillips Home will limit the size of each tour in order to insure safe social distancing. Employees who are dealing with the public will be required to wear masks and while we encourage guests to do the same, it will not be required. Wednesday-Friday tours will be held at 10 & 11 a.m. and 2, 3 & 4 p.m. Saturday tours will be held at 10 & 11 a.m. and 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.
7 PM
Kiddie Park Opens for the Season Kiddie Park Jonstone Park, Cherokee & Hensley Operated by the Bartlesville Playground Association, Kiddie Park is an outdoor children's amusement park where each ticket is .50 cents and each ride takes one ticket, admission is free. For even more information on hours of operation, prices, parties, events, and Kiddie Park closures please contact 918-336-5337 or email contactus@kiddiepark.net.
Sat, Jun 6 8 AM
29th Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale Washington County Fairgrounds 1109 N Delaware St., Dewey The 29th Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale at the Washington County Fair Building will feature 100 booths, dealers from 6 states. Great variety of treasures and prices!
320 Skyline Dr.
Bartlesville Farmer’s Market Opens Frank Phillips Park Frank Phillips & Keeler The Bartlesville Farmers Market will be opening Saturday June 6th 8:00am – 11:30am with 14 vendors. We are working hard to develop plans that will keep our customers and vendors safe by spreading our masked vendors apart and making our market a one-way market. Customers will enter from Buffalo entrance and exit from the other 3 openings. In the coming weeks we will be announcing other changes, guidelines and suggestions that will promote a safe market environment. We will need to partner with our customers for a safe market. The Farmers Market has always been a place for fun interaction with our neighbors. This will change some in 2020, but we will still provide an economic benefit to our area farmers and the nutritional well-being of the local population.
Eastland Center • 9183352940
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As shelter-in-place restrictions continue to lift, more and more venues throughout the community are starting to open. June was initially scheduled full of great activities around the Bartlesville area, and many earlier events may be postponed until later this month. If you have questions about any particular events you may be interested in attending, please check with the individual event coordinators or venues for more scheduling information.
JULY COVER CONTEST! Featuring…
CONTEST DATES
PRICE
JUNE 1-15
TOWER
OR UNTIL CONTEST IS FULL
We are looking for the perfect photo of our beloved Price Tower for our July cover!
How to Enter: Enter online at www.bartlesvillemonthly.com Only the first 100 entries will be accepted
PRIZE
be pictured in the July issue of The First willbMonthly, and the winning photo 100 entries will be featured on our cover.
GRAND
$250 + the photo will be featured on the July cover
Send us your best photo of Price Tower to be entered in our July cover contest. Remember that a vertical photo will work the best and the bMonthly logo is always in the upper right section of the cover. The perfect JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Summer Reading Program Kick-O昀 Event! Friday, June 12, 6-8pm Tower Center at Unity Square Lots of fun & games, featuring a performance by
INSPYRAL CIRCUS ENTERTAINMENT!
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Providing a trusting, safe home away from home for our residents 30
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NOW YOU KNOW SPONSOR
Regent Bank is working to help small businesses expand and create jobs. As a preferred SBA Lender, we can help expedite the process.
(918) 273-1227
Our Promise to You. We care about our clients. Providing exceptional customer service is how we do business and is the driving motivation for each member of the Regent Bank Team.
NOW YOU KNOW
Movies Under the Stars
Bartlesville Once Boasted Three Drive-In Theaters by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum Drive-in movie theaters began to appear throughout the United States in the early 1930s, although Oklahoma was slow to establish such a theater. Reminiscent of Bartlesville’s earlier rooftop outdoor theaters like the Gray Brothers Coliseum and Oklah Air Dome, Bartlesville supported three drive-in theaters between 1948 and 1983 – the Dri-Vin, Hilltop and Belle Meade. The actual address of the “Dri-Vin” outdoor theater was never listed in the Bartlesville City Directories but during their grand opening in late July 1948, local newspapers announced the address of the Dri-Vin as “West Third at the City Limits.” Owned and operated by Joe Noble, the Dri-Vin Theater’s screen faced west, towards Pawhuska, and sneaky people parked their automobiles on the hill west of Bartlesville to watch the movies for free. The Dri-Vin offered before-theshow entertainment for all ages. The small children’s playground area with swings and teeter-totters entertained rambunctious youngsters before the movie; and on May 23, 1949 the Dri-Vin announced an adult recreational park was opened with horseshoes, croquet, badminton and archery, all free with the price of a movie ticket.
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The property at the southwest corner of what is now Highway 123 and Frank Phillips Boulevard was purchased by the Phillips Petroleum Company in 1949 and is where the Phillips Research Center buildings and facilities are now located. After only 17 months of operation, the Dri-Vin Theater closed in December 1949 with poetic final showing of “Gone with the Wind.” In the meantime, southeast of Bartlesville on U.S. Highway 60, earth began to move as Griffith Theaters announced the plans for a new $100,000 drive-in movie theater. Three months after Dallas architect Jack Corgan and Shawnee, OK contractor J.D. Lee broke ground, the Hilltop Drive-In held its grand opening October 9, 1948.
Phil Hays Sr., manager of the Bartlesville movie theaters, announced the Hilltop drive-in theater would accommodate 550 automobiles with access to private in-car speakers and an RCA sound system. In addition, the 35’x45’ outdoor screen that towered over the prairie, with few homes in the background, was sturdy enough to withstand one hundred mileper-hour winds. Watching movies under the stars, from the comfort of one’s automobile, created a family atmosphere or a romantic date night setting. Hays was a “promoter extraordinaire.” In 1950 he installed “Phil’s Playground” for the kids with playground equipment, a petting zoo complete with monkeys, and train or pony rides at no cost to patrons. The Hilltop presented “Freevue” Saturday nights with two features for one price; “Family Nights” with reduced admission for the entire family; and who doesn’t remember Wednesday “Buck Nite?” It was amazing to see how many people could cram into or hang onto a vehicle, even a trunk full for one dollar per carload. According to Mrs. Emily Hays, wife of the late Phil Hays, Jr., “The Hilltop had a playground area with a menagerie of animals in an enclosure under the viewing
NOW YOU KNOW screen. There were armadillos for a little bit too but they ate the ducks so they had to go. The monkeys got out all the time. Mr. Phil Hays Sr. tried everything to promote the theater and encourage people to go to out to the drive-in, including lots of contests. And people drove off with the drive-in speakers all the time.” The Hilltop monkeys were celebrities in Bartlesville’s theater world. The comical “escape artists” were known as the preentertainment of the Hilltop experience. The little Houdini’s were named Popcorn, Lee, Walter (all females) and four others. The Monkeys “wintered” at a downtown theater and in November 1952, a great mischievous escape happened which kept the entire city on their toes during the capture. In June of 1974, the Hilltop Drive-In gained a heavenly purpose when a DriveIn Church was sponsored by the First United Methodist Church with services each Sunday morning from 7:45 to 8:25 a.m., June to August. The “come as you are” church offered free coffee, juice, donuts and cookies in the concession stand before and after the service. And, the ministers, pianists and singers were located on top of the concession stand so the congregation could hear the service amplified over the theater’s loud speaking system. The service was an exceptional opportunity for local talent become involved too. This non-denominational outdoor ministry offered Christian fellowship as an “outreach to those who don’t have a church home, to the elderly and handicapped, to travelers passing through town and to those unable to participate in a service later in the day.”
The Hilltop Drive-In Church continued 15 years, until the theater was demolished. At that time, the Sunday church services were relocated to Eastland Shopping Center and broadcast live on Bartlesville based KYFM 100.1 radio. The Hilltop Drive-In showed two movies nightly, 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., rain or shine, and the concession stand was centrally located or the “concession cart” was available for personal service at the car. Sunday, November 20, 1983 marked the final evening of the Hilltop Drive-In. Moviegoers enjoyed “Foul Play” and “Deal of the Century” starring Chevy Chase before silence fell over the gathered cars. Not only did 1983 end the Hilltop Drive-In, the year also brought a close to the era of the drive-in theater in Bartlesville. The closing of the drive-in landmark was a devastating blow to area residents and brought rezoning issues. Many residents of the Hilltop and Rolling Meadows subdivisions filed a 300-signature petition to block the commercial and multi-family rezoning, but failed. In 1992, the Bartlesville Examiner Enterprise established a new location at 4125 SE Nowata Road followed by Cablevision the following year at 4127 SE Nowata Road. The Belle-Meade Drive-In, located on West 14th Street along Highway 123, held a grand opening, July 4, 1953 with a
gigantic fireworks display. The theater had 350 in-car speakers, concession stand with a 50-seat patio for pedestrian patrons and the best projection equipment available. Often, the Hilltop Drive-In showed first-run films while the Belle Meade showed “B-movies” or second-runs. On September 3, 1957, after only five entertaining seasons, the BelleMeade Drive-In Theater closed, sighting difficulty in accessing quality films. Drive-in theaters are nearly a memory from the past. There were an estimated 4,000 drive-in theaters throughout the United States at the peak in the late 50s, which fell to about 330 in 2017, with six drive-in theaters listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Feeling nostalgic? The Admiral Twin at 7355 E Easton St in Tulsa will give you the drive-in experience, close to home.
Did You Know? Looking for more theater information? The Bartlesville Area History Museum gift shop has a book for your reading pleasure: Vaudeville to Cinema, detailing the history of theater in Bartlesville and the surrounding area. Now You Know*
JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Insurance Made Easy Commercial • Personal Family Owned & Operated Since 1926 Proudly Serving NE Oklahoma
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Telemed appointments available during office hours
We would like to acknowledge and thank our staff for hanging in there during this pandemic.
Sick Visits after 3 pm
Still open for your Since 1999
providers WILLIAM W. DAVITO, DO MARK D. ERHARDT, DO DANIEL J. HOLDMAN, MD ELIZABETH R. SHERROCK, MD DONALD R. SIMMONS, MD MICHAEL RYAN VACLAW, MD JANICE L. SHIPPY APRN, DNP AMANDA GUTIERREZ, LPC
HEalth needs! Same-day appointments Mon-Thur 8am-5pm | Fri 8am-12pm | Sat 9am-12pm sick visits for patients suffering from potentially infectious or transmissible conditions from 1:30-5pm only, Mon-Thur
918-331-9979
primarycareassociatesbartlesville.com JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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LOOKING BACK SPONSOR
Jewel Box HOTEL APARTMENTS
Celebrate and Luxuriate in your very own Jewel Box • 5 unique one bedroom hotel apartments • In the heart of downtown • Laundry room with washers and dryersfree for tenant use
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The Room At The Top Events (918) 534-6011 100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd | Bartlesville, OK 74003 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday johnstone.sare@gmail.com | www.johnstone-sare-theroomatthetop.com | www.facebook.com/johnstone.sare.events | instagram: @johnstone.sare.events
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LOOKING BACK
A Forgotten History Hero Herb Sheller Helped Document the Area’s History by Kay Little, Little History Adventures In 1903, Bartlesville was a bustling oil boomtown. Several developers moved here to establish businesses that helped the oil industry, which returned the favor by helping the new businesses. In 1903, Bartlesville welcomed a number of new residents and businesses that became influential to the success of our city. Guy Tatroe came as a carpenter and eventually opened Tatroe’s Planing Mill and Glass Works. N.E. Hains, a florist, worked for Steinhouser Greenhouse and eventually opened his own flower shop. The MK&T Railroad added to the Railroad service in and out of Bartlesville. One of the first brick buildings was built in 1903, the Bradley and Bryant Building, also known as the Opera House. While all of those were very important to the history of Bartlesville, my story is about Herb Sheller, who arrived here in 1903. He was not well known, but was important to our history. He came as a sign painter, established the Sheller Sign System, and was well known for the nicer signs on business and office doors. He was known to climb high ladders to apply gold and paint letters. He was an excellent artist. Herb also enjoyed taking photos of early Bartlesville. Because of all this, he became a local historian, much like his close friend, Frank Griggs, who arrived in 1908, and photographed Washington County for over 70 years. Together, Frank and Herb documented the history of this area through photos and paintings. The two men were close friends and loved to camp in Barry County, Missouri. While there, they explored caves, fished, looked for artifacts, and took many photos. A younger historian, Edgar Weston, knew Frank and Herb and told about listening to the two men tell of the seamy side of Bartlesville. Many newcomers to Bartlesville would be
initiated to the new town by being set up with a pre-arranged burlesque performer, who would make a play for them. One of the most popular performers was Ruby Darby, who would be a good subject for a future story. Herb, like any good historian, collected artifacts and information. He collected paintings, including his own. He also col-
lected Indian artifacts from Barry County, where he met and married Jewette Antle. Herb was instrumental in establishing the Bartlesville Art Center in Johnstone Park, which was torn down recently. People would observe Herb in the park with an easel, painting beautiful scenery. Several years ago, the collections staff at the Bartlesville Area History Museum became excited when they found Herb’s painting of the Carr/Bartles mill site. He had written a description on the back, which helped the staff better understand the workings of the mill. He also wrote a poem to accompany the art, Legend of the old Mill, about the demise of the mill. Even though painting was a hobby for Herb Sheller, his hobby left a legacy and answered so many questions about the mill. His hobby was noticed in Tulsa as well, as he had several pictures in an artists show at Philbrook Art Center for several years. We lost a great historian in May of 1973, with the death of Herb Sheller.
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PROFILES OF THE PAST
“Gravy Over All” Murphy’s Steak House has been Serving Up Comfort Food Since 1946 by Lori Just You can't bring up Murphy's Steak House without finishing the sentence with "gravy over all." With their signature brown gravy perfectly complimenting the handcut fries piled high on an open-faced burger known as the hot hamburger, Murphy's started a new southern comfort food tradition. This original, made-from-scratch family recipe is a labor of love, as the process can take hours by a prep crew that comes in early to prepare every morning. "The hot hamburger looks and tastes like nothing else," explained Lorie Murphy, second generation co-owner. "It's not only delicious but it represents comfort. Generations of family and friends have been enjoying this same dish year after year. And many people make the return trip to Bartlesville just to have one." Melvel and Lorene Murphy, founders of Murphy’s Steakhouse, 1625 S.W. Frank Phillips Blvd., opened on the west end of town in September 1946 with financial support of relatives Pat and Hayden Hughes. This traditional roadhouse diner with eight stools and four booths quickly became popular among oil and gas executives and blue-collar workers. Melvel, also known as "Murph," moved to Bartlesville after WWII. He had married Lorene Postrach, whose parents were early pioneer settlers in the city. Melvel had previous experience with a dime hamburger store in Okmulgee. As word spread, the diner was expanded and remodeled in 1957 and again 1966. It burned down in 1969, damaging most of the interior and was hit by the March 15, 1982 tornado. But unlike Murphy's Law, Melvin and Lorene continued to find exceptions to the rule. Murphy’s reopened just two weeks after the storm. Both Melvel and Lorraine worked daily at the restaurant until illness prevented them from continuing. Granddaughter, Shannon Cooper, fondly recalls visiting often in her youth. When she did, Murph, in his signature white, crisp chef cap, would pull her behind the counter to the candy drawer to completely stuff both of her pockets. Although this popular candy drawer hasn’t weathered the test of time, a large bowl of candy remains next to the
cash register, much to customers’ delight. The Murphy’s only son, Paul, also spent much of his childhood at the steakhouse. He went on to major in restaurant management at Oklahoma State University, then returned home and opened his own burger joint across town. After the 80s tornado, Paul joined his parent's operation and became a full-time manager in the 90s and continued running it with his wife, Lorie. Decorated with black and white photos of historic Bartlesville, Murphy's continues today with its hometown diner atmosphere of well-worn red booths and friendly & familiar staff. The waiting room brings an overflow crowd, where customers swap stories and keep an eye out for opening tables. A number of traditional favorites — chicken fingers, steaks, and shrimp — remain on the board. Their famous house garlic dressing is frequently seen drizzled over the complimentary crackers and bread slices found on every tabletop. In a typical week, 2,000 pounds of potatoes are peeled, cut and fried into golden brown perfection. "Our menu hasn't really changed too much over 74 years," said Lorie. "We still serve the traditional items and have added a few things here and there, like chicken fried steak and new appetizers." Other than a few upgrades of equipment and maintenance needs, Murphy's doesn't have any plans to change anything any time soon. And that seems okay with the loyal consumers, as feedback has always been "don't make too many changes." Faithful to their legacy, Murphy's motto and an etched image of the "world famous hot hamburger" adorns the gravestone of Melvel and Lorene Murphy in White Rose Cemetery. They genuinely lived a life of Gravy. Over. All. ~ Murphy's has always operated on a friends-first mindset among their employees. These friends become family as they grow, celebrate and support each other both inside and outside of the restaurant. Murphy's would like to dedicate this article in remembrance of Evann Jones. Her gentle heart and friendly smile greeted customers for over 30 years.
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STAY STRONG
Return to Resilience
Reframing Life During a Pandemic
by Sarah Leslie Gagan & Joe Todd Walking among the graves at White Rose Cemetery, the tombstones tell a silent story. They tell a tale far beyond the anguish of death. They affirm the length and breadth of irredeemable cost, paid with currency of human lives, within a pandemic. The years 1918 and 1919, etched in stone, appear in every direction, and soundlessly recount the devastating days when a most gruesome visitor came calling upon Bartlesville. Three waves of deadly Spanish Flu would hit our community between March 1918 and May 1919. “Patient Zero,” otherwise documented as the first known human case of the H1N1 strain, was in Haskell County, Kansas, at Camp Funston. Located two miles north of Fort Riley, Camp Funston was the training center for approximately 90,000 men preparing to travel overseas to fight in WWI. One of those men was 22-year-old John Goodner. Drafted into the Army in the spring of 1917, John was sent to Fort Riley for Basic Training. He entered the medical corps following basic training and was immediately put to work when the epidemic hit. Fort Riley had previously been a cavalry post, with several large JOHN GOODNER buildings used to shelter and train horses. Those buildings were converted into four large hospitals, manned by John’s company, caring for thousands of ill soldiers. There was a point in time when John saw about 350 men die each day. Decades later, in 1984, John recalled, “The only medicine we had was digitalis and aspirin, and they had barrels of whiskey to 40
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treat the men. We took care of those men as best we could, but no one really knew what to do. I don’t know how many men died at Fort Riley and Camp Funston, but it was a tremendous number.” The first virus wave traveled from Kansas to Europe, rapidly spreading across the battlefields of France. It wasn’t until it reached Spain that it was recognized as a global concern and first covered by the press. Because the notoriety of the virus originated in Spain, it was termed the “Spanish Flu.” While spreading in Europe during the first wave, the flu mutated into an even more virulent strain, which proved to be more lethal than the original. The second wave arrived in Bartlesville in October 1918, and was spoken of in the Spring 2001 edition of The Chronicles of Oklahoma, featuring an article by Dr.
STAY STRONG Nigel Anthony Sellars: Almost Hopeless in the Wake of the Storm: The 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic in Oklahoma. In reference to the second wave, Dr. Sellars noted, “The worst struck was Bartlesville, where the flu wreaked havoc, especially among smelter workers. The city had suffered 56 deaths by October 22, which gave it the second highest ratio of flu deaths to population in the nation, trailing only Philadelphia. Federal officials sent a doctor and two nurses to aid city officials. The city set up an emergency hospital at the local Elks Lodge, but as the number of victims grew, officials had to create a second one at the city’s First Baptist Church.” Winfield Reed moved to Bartlesville at the age of 13, when his father’s railroad position was relocated from Indiana to Oklahoma in 1917. The flu hit shortly after their arrival. In a 1983 interview, he vividly recalled First Baptist Church opening as an emergency hospital WINFIELD REED when the small medical facility in the back of Horace Mann School could no longer hold the sick. When funeral homes could no longer handle the large number of bodies, the downtown Elk’s Club was converted from a makeshift hospital into a temporary morgue. Winfield’s brother-in-law, Steve Parker, was a deliveryman for Bennett Wholesale Grocer in Bartlesville. During the day, he delivered groceries. At night, using the company truck, he delivered caskets to the cemetery for burial. The cemetery attendants would unload the caskets and place them upon designated gravesites. With so many townsmen either fighting in WWI or suffering from the flu, volunteers to assist with burials were few. Prisoners from the Washington County Jail were taken out of their cells at night to dig graves and bury the dead. At the age of 79, Winfield still recalled how lucky he and his family were that none of them came down with the flu. The pandemic of 1918 developed at a time when few medical remedies were known or available. Coal oil, camphor, turpentine, and even formaldehyde were used as disinfectants. It was believed by some to be caused by bacteria rather than a virus. The Spanish Flu primarily afflicted adults in the prime of life, between ages 20 and 40, often sparing children and the elderly. Yet despite the immense obstacles, Bartians and Oklahomans were resilient. Citizens stepped up and did what they could for others. Women volunteered to work in overcrowded hospitals, neighbors brought meals to neighbors, children were cared for and even adopted by other families when death took the parents’ lives. Hardship drew the community closer to one another.
woman, she rode horseback from place to place to care for families. Fern would wash clothes with a scrub board, cook and clean for each family, allowing them to stay in bed and recover. When she herself caught the flu, she described it as very painful, feeling like “her head was going to split open.” Fern recovered, and began doing her rounds again, caring for others who were ill. William Gans of Hobart, Oklahoma was 13 when everyone but him in his family of eight became ill with the flu. The neighbors couldn’t help because they were also sick, so William persevered, and took over all the chores of the household and cared for his ailing family. He remembered it being a very terrible time because the whole family was bedfast, but they did recover under his care. The past pandemic, and the present, contain many stories of Oklahoman resilience in the face of adversity. Persistent resilience lies deep inside the human spirit, it’s part of who we are. The “new normal” definition changes each day as the course of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold. We may have to fight this battle more than once to win it. Life may not get easier, or more forgiving, but we can grow stronger and more resilient. No matter how much falls on us, we must keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.
Fern Beherendt is one example of Oklahoman perseverance. She was 19 when the Spanish Flu pandemic arrived in her town of Boise City, Oklahoma. In a 1983 interview, Fern recalled that if a person had a clean house, clean clothes and stayed in bed, they were most likely to survive. As a young
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JEFF HALL REAL ESTATE “My commitment to service is my commitment to you!”
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918-333-5151 42
b Monthly | JUNE 2020
AGENT FOR GOODVILLE MUTUAL
GARDEN CLUB
Green Thumbs Bartlesville Council of Garden Clubs Organized in 1949 by Kay Little, Little History Adventures “1949... what a wonderful year to be in Bartlesville. The depression was behind us, the war was over and local companies were growing and vying for bright young men coming out of the military service.” — Green Thumb Garden Club member Wynona Cook The year 1949 in Bartlesville saw a lot of growth, with the construction of the Adams Building, the Bureau of Mines, the YWCA, Hudson Lake, and Hulah Dam. Downtown Bartlesville was bustling with many service stations, grocery stores, churches, retail stores, and theaters. The last Dewey Roundup was held that year. Housing was scarce and downtown was where everything was. Tuxedo was a separate community. The Bartlesville Council of Garden Clubs was first organized in 1949, by Mrs. Carl Ransbarger, to bring about a close affiliation among existing garden clubs and to aid in promotion and protection of plants, trees, and birds in the area. They stressed a unified interest in civic improvement. The clubs donated their time planting flowers and plants at nursing homes, schools, the old Courthouse, and at Woolaroc. In addition, flower shows and tours of homes and gardens were open to the public. Then in 1962, they decided to form a new organization to be called the Bartlesville Garden Center. This was to provide a non-profit, educational, scientific association for members to encourage civic plantings, create public interest in conservation, and to maintain headquar-
ters for all horticulturists. It was incorporated in 1966. This organization was the umbrella for all the garden clubs in the area, including the Green Thumb Garden Club. Since 1949, the Green Thumb Garden Club has had many flower shows, garden tours, plant sales, sent daffodils to shut-ins, served as the Jr Garden Club sponsor, given scholarships, planted trees for Sooner Park and Jo Allyn Lowe Park, provided park benches and redbuds for Sooner Park, sponsored a science fair for students, sponsored the corner at Frank Phillips and the highway, decorated the Frank Phillips Mansion for holidays, planted flowers at the library, supplied bird feeders to nursing homes, and many more community improvements. During the 1970s, the local garden clubs and the city developed the corner at Frank Phillips and Washington Blvd, with many shrubs, flowers, trees, and stairs. After the devastating flood of ’86 and attempted takeover of Phillips, the people of Bartlesville were somewhat depressed, so the garden clubs decided to place a large Christmas tree on the corner and decorated it. It was very well received, and citizens gave money for the lights. This community Christmas tree became a tradition. When the Green Thumb Club holds their plant sales every year, part of the money goes towards maintaining this corner. The garden clubs have also made the Corner a monarch waystation. Francis Edgar Rice moved to Bartlesville in 1918 and became an executive director of Phillips. His hobby was gardening, and he helped start the Bartlesville Garden Clubs. His wife was one of the first presidents of the Green Thumb Club. Mr. Rice was responsible for the gardens at the Art Center during its early time. He also hosted of several Garden Club meetings at his home. The Green Thumb Garden club is achieving the goal of the National Garden Clubs of America: “To promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.” JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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After
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WHAT WE DO: General Home Repairs Hard Surface Flooring Finish Carpentry Drywall Repairs and Texturing Interior and Exterior Painting
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Family Owned & Operated Since 1995 “My wife, Maryann, and I are both retired school teachers. We are very proud to have been teachers in Bartlesville Public Schools. We both feel kids that attend BPS receive an excellent education — including our three children” — Owner Mike Cole
Mon - Fri. 8am to 4pm Saturday 8am to 12pm 44
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A GOOD WORD SPONSOR
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A GOOD WORD
Most People are Truly Good Find the Positives as We Rise Up from this Pandemic by Bob Fraser To say that recent months have been difficult is an enormous understatement. The simple things in life that we took for granted became impossible ... a trip to the store, a visit with friends, even a simple handshake. Schools are cancelled, no sporting events, no senior graduation, no jobs for some ... the world seemed to be spinning off its axis. Perhaps the good that comes out of this viral epidemic is that many of us slowed down (because we had no choice) and reengaged in some important things that had slipped away over time ... dinner around the table, more interaction with your family, more reading of books, more time alone with nature, and more time focused on what is really important in our lives. It would be nice to think that when things do return to the “new normal” that we will remember these things and be better for it ... perhaps it will touch most Americans the same way. While we have been closed at Woolaroc, we took the time to address a lot of projects, and employees pitched in to help in areas other than their own. Employees from the front gate, main office, lodge kitchen, and others jumped in to help our small landscape team prepare and plant flower beds. Staff from the Lodge, Buffalo Haunt, and Front Gate power-washed and re-stained multiple buildings on site. Museum and Buffalo Haunt employees became our on-site demolition crew tearing out walls, flooring, and ceilings in the old Heritage Theater as we prepare for new improvements. During this time, we knew that people were frustrated and tired of being at home, so we decided to open the gates of Woolaroc on five straight Wednesdays for free drive-thru days. The success was a bit overwhelming to say the least! To begin with, on the first Wednesday, we had over 8,000 visitors drive thru the grounds of Woolaroc (for comparison, the largest recorded one-day crowd in Woolaroc his-
tory was 4,874). Cars were backed up halfway to Bartlesville and to Barnsdall. People waited in their cars for almost two hours. Four Oklahoma Highway Patrol graciously helped with traffic on the highway. The amazing thing? Zero complaints from guests, highway patrol, employees or even the animals. People needed a release and this provided them with one. But here is the amazing thing that happened that day ... our guests that day, many who are scared, worried, and maybe had just lost their job, these same people donated over $7,500 to Woolaroc as their way of saying “thank you” to us! My point? Most people truly are good and want to help. It is so easy to get disenchanted by what seems like more and more fighting and division in this country, yet most people really are good and mean well ... and they too are scared and worried about what comes next. So do your part ... replace the germ-sharing handshake with a smile and let’s try to find the positive as we rise up from this viral pandemic. Argue less ... find common ground ... smile more and show compassion ... because we all need each other. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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HELPING HANDS
Sharing Love, Joy & Peace SpiritCHURCH Clearing Over $2.6M in Medical Debt SpiritCHURCH in Bartlesville is clearing $2,679,045 in medical debt for households across the state of Oklahoma. A total of 2,151 Oklahoma families will get letters this month announcing that all of their medical debt has been paid off by a local church. Lead Pastor Dr. Darryl Wootton said “The mission of our SpiritCHURCH is to share the love, joy, and peace of Jesus Christ with the least, last, and the lost. We thought this was a wonderful way to bless our neighbors in these economically challenging times.” SpiritCHURCH initially eliminated the critical medical debt of Washington, Nowata, and Osage Counties. However, they were able to partner with Christian Assembly in Los Angeles to bless other counties across Oklahoma. Pastor Darryl indicated that families in 56 Oklahoma counties would be blessed by the generosity of SpiritCHURCH members. In the state of Oklahoma, about 26 percent of the population has medical debt. In order to eliminate the debt, SpiritCHURCH, an Assemblies of God church, partnered with RIP Medical Debt. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit organization that allows generous organizations like SpiritCHURCH the ability to erase, at a greatly reduced rate, the debt of Americans whose lives have been destroyed by unjust medical debt. “We were able to help those in our communities that need the assistance the most,” said Pastor Darryl. Those receiving the debt cancellation letter this month are individuals that make less than twice the Federal poverty level, have more than 5% of their annual income going towards out-ofpocket medical bills, and have debts greater than their assets. SpiritCHURCH leaders do not know the identities of the people they are helping, or if any of them are part of the church’s con-
gregation. Medical privacy laws require that only RIP Medical Debt have knowledge of the gifts’ recipients. The congregation was “overwhelmed” when Pastor Darryl made the announcement during their online Mother’s Day services. “Over $2.6 million of medical debt has been cancelled for our neighbors. We hope this medical debt forgiveness will remind people that God wants everyone to experience His grace and forgiveness every day,” Pastor Darryl said. Since the Corona outbreak, SpiritCHURCH in Bartlesville has served meals, distributed groceries, provided meals to nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks, safely visited over 500 homes in the community, and broadcast their services via live stream on their website, spirit.church, YouTube, Facebook, Periscope, Boxcast, Twitter, and local radio. Eliminating medical debt was a practical way for the church to continue its mission of sharing love, joy, and peace.
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OUR CITY
A History of Persevering Bartlesville Always Finds a Way to Overcome Adversity by Mike Wilt The city of Bartlesville had only been incorporated for two years when it experienced a massive flood in 1899. A man named Henry Armstrong had a herd of 80 cattle on the north side of the Caney River. Because of the flood waters, Armstrong moved the cattle to higher ground along the Santa Fe Railroad grade. However, the herd was blocking a stopped train. Local businessman Jesse Overlees sent some wooden planks from his lumberyard. Along with an Indian known as Big Bear and a white man named Harry Brent, Armstrong laid the planks between the rails and used a steer to lead the herd to dry ground. The people of Bartlesville have always had the tenacity to respond and persevere during challenging times. The proof is in our history. At just past 7 p.m. on March 15, 1982, an Oklahoma twister roared through the west side of the city wreaking damage and destruction in a 5-by-21 block area. One of the structures that was hardest hit was Mnich’s Grocery Store on Highway 123, currently the site of United Supermarket. The tornado ripped off the roof and bulldozed the walls. Owner Gus Mnich estimated the damage to be around $1 million. 50
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Elsewhere, Murphy’s Steakhouse, TRW Reda Pump (now Schlumberger), and the Bartlesville Police Department on Hensley Blvd. all sustained extensive damage. Power lines were snapped and became mangled around downed poles. The walls of Virginia Avenue Baptist Church were very close to collapsing the next morning. Some 25 people had been inside the church when the storm hit, but no one was seriously injured. Miraculously, there was no loss of life. Around 57 people were injured with 14 being treated at Jane Phillips Hospital’s emergency room. The National Weather Service reported the path as being roughly three miles long with wind speeds between 113 and 157 miles per hour.
Local officials labeled the tornado as the worst in the city’s history with an estimated $30 million in damage to homes and businesses. The destruction was so severe that President Ronald Reagan ordered the pilot of Air Force One to circle Bartlesville so he could survey the scene on his way west. Within a matter of months, the damaged areas were mostly rebuilt and normal life had resumed. Just two years later, the city and its people endured a different kind of storm. On December 4, 1984, Mesa Petroleum CEO T. Boone Pickens launched a battle for control of Phillips Petroleum Company. Age 56 at the time, Pickens led an investment group known as Mesa Partners in an effort to purchase the nation’s eighth-largest oil company in a $1.38 billion hostile takeover. The company and the community leaped into action. Phillips officials flew to New York City seeking legal and financial advice while employees called shareholders imploring them to stick together. Citizens held prayer vigils and rallies with many wearing “Boone Buster” tshirts. The Pickens-led group dropped its effort after a long three weeks.
OUR CITY The company and the community barely had time to catch their collective breath when “corporate raider” Carl Icahn made a move on Phillips six weeks later. On February 4, 1985, Icahn offered $8.1 billion after having purchased a large portion of Phillips stock two months earlier. After a four-week fight, Icahn gave up his takeover attempt. For three excruciating months of anxiety, Phillips employees and Bartlesville citizens shared a palpable fear the company would leave, property values would plummet, schools would be devastated, and businesses would close. Many wondered if their lives would ever be the same. The next year brought the Great Flood of 1986, the one against which all others have been measured. Heavy rains during the last two weeks of that September left ground across Oklahoma saturated. Then came more heavy rains from Hurricane Paine. By Friday, October 3, Hulah and Copan lakes were full after some 24 inches of rainfall. The U.S. Corps of Engineers felt it had no choice but to open the dam gates. Ironically, sunny skies prevailed on October 4 as the Caney River began to rise out of its banks to an all-time record of 28 feet, well above the 13-foot flood stage. Downtown Bartlesville was completely cut off at three entry points. Based on aerial photos taken at the time, the town’s business sector looked like Florida
swampland. Kiddie Park was completely covered. The YMCA, police station, and baseball stadium along with 2,000 homes and 100 businesses were ravaged. Bartlesville residents also found themselves in a divided city with downtown on one side of the flood waters and the hospital and residential areas on the other. The only way to get across town was by boat or helicopter. News accounts of the flood and the $37 million in damage it caused spread from Los Angeles to New York City. It took time but the city and its people eventually recovered and settled back into daily life. People who were young adults living in Bartlesville in the early 20th century witnessed some extraordinarily historic and often difficult times during their lives. One such person was Frank Griggs. The now-legendary photographer arrived in Bartlesville in 1908. He was 26 years old when he married Helen Corrine Phillips on June 1, 1914. World War I broke out a short 57 days later. By the time Griggs turned 30, an estimated 22 million military and civilian lives had been lost. Some 53,000 U.S. soldiers died in combat while another 63,000 succumbed to disease.
Griggs was 41 with two daughters ages eight and six when The Great Depression hit in the summer of 1929. At its peak, unemployment reached 25 percent and GDP fell 30 percent. Six months after Griggs celebrated his 53rd birthday in 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, dragging the United States into World War II. It would be the deadliest war in history, killing three percent of the world’s population including almost 417,000 Americans. Griggs and his fellow townspeople would go on to cope with the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Asian Flu, and the Hong Kong Flu in addition to the constant fear of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War. Panic gasoline buying and the Iran hostage crisis had been part of American life when Griggs passed away at the age of 95 on April 7, 1982 during an economic recession. Experiencing angst and trepidation in the midst of local, national, and global events is nothing new for the people of Bartlesville. And neither is possessing the fortitude to persevere and prosper.
Right on the heels of war was the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic which killed 675,000 Americans and 50 million worldwide. Also during that time, there was no cure and no treatment for polio, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. The discovery of penicillin was eight years away. Still, people in Bartlesville continued with daily living. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Introducing LuxeRehab
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HEALING
Together We Will Prevail IGNITE Medical Resort - Adams PARC Boasts Superhero Care Team At IGNITE Medical Resort – Adams PARC, our mission has always been about healing. Our superhero care team works tirelessly to send people home stronger and functioning better. During this crisis, we are proud to be part of the healthcare continuum that works together with our hospital partners to prevent the spread of the virus and to help in the healing of those afflicted with it. Just like we have always done, we are rising up to meet the needs of our community. Our goal is simple, to ensure IGNITE Medical Resort – Adams PARC is a safe place to recover and rehabilitate while maintaining a healthy work environment for our superhero staff. We have been continuously implementing new policies and procedures with guidance from the CDC, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and state and local county health departments. Working closely with Dr. Thomas Luiskutty, our medical director, and our hospital partners, new procedures and management of new admissions of guests with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 have been implemented. We continue to carefully monitor the situation and make changes when necessary to secure the safety of our guests and employees.
We are so proud of our frontline staff, our IGNITE superheroes. They continue to be the shining lights for us, our guests, and their families during this crisis. We continue to support them by providing education, townhalls, and even a hardship program to help them if their direct family is financially affected due to the pandemic.
We have developed new protocols and designated special areas to admit patients who have tested negative for the virus as well as for those who have tested positive. Visitation, group activities, group dining, and group therapy has been postponed temporarily to protect those who have entrusted us with their healthcare. All employees undergo rigorous screening every day on every shift to ensure the safety and wellness of our workforce and guests. All staff members don masks while in the building at all times and guests are required to wear masks when leaving their room or during treatment.
IGNITE Medical Resort – Adams PARC is proud to be a part of the Bartlesville community during this challenging time and together we will prevail. As we rise-up from the COVID crisis, IGNITE Medical Resort – Adams PARC has many new and exciting improvements to be unveiled. Ignite is known for extinguishing the stereotype and providing uncompromising luxury and rapid rehabilitation. Bartlesville can expect to see state-of-the-art enhancements to the current property, including the remodel of the 44 private suites, which will be complete with 50-inch TV’s and in-room hospitality tablets for guests to request room service and housekeeping. Hospitality enhancements will welcome guests and visitors at every opportunity with the on-site Fireside Grille Restaurant, complete with luxury dining options. Guests can also expect to see a new-andimproved therapy gym and outdoor therapy space to accommodate all levels of rehab. Thank you, Bartlesville, for trusting the Ignite family with the health and safety of your loved ones!
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ONCE UPON A TIME
Memories of Something Special Visit to Kansas Turns Into a Trip Down Memory Lane by Rita Thurman Barnes On an October morning, long ago, my husband decided to gift me with a birthday trip to Hutchison, Kansas where his aunt and uncle had lived. He’d only visited them once as a young boy because his aunt had become annoyed with him during a children’s card game and put him on a Greyhound bus back to Bartlesville. He still remembers it was a very “long” ride home. So, this autumn day found us trying to relive his childhood trip and possibly something else I wasn’t to understand fully until we’d arrived. Since he was a young teen my husband loved the actress Kim Novak. In 1956, she starred with William Holden in the timeless movie called “Picnic” which was filmed in the Hutchinson, area. Nickerson, Kansas was the location where Holden jumped on a freight train at the end of the movie and where Novak finally got on a bus for Tulsa. We stayed in Hutchinson at a great B&B but the highlight of the trip was seeing Riverside Park at Halstead where the picnic scenes and the famous scene of Novak as the “Queen
of Neewollah” were filmed. It was a Sunday evening just hours before daylight savings time expired, so we had just enough sunlight left to try to locate the park from the movie. After about 20 minutes my husband turned up a little road-to-nowhere and saw a small-town park. It was then we spotted the Salina River and the suspension bridge we recalled. We recognized the trees and the layout of the park and the location of the old dance gazebo as well. We stopped the car and ended up by an old concrete marker that read in part, “Riverside Park. Some of the scenes in the motion picture Picnic were filmed here in 1956. It was on the rainy side that late Kansas afternoon but my husband, on my birthday, had hit pay dirt. He stopped near the park, grabbed his digital camera and took off, without once glancing back at the birthday girl — in search of the ghost of Kim Novak. I remained in the car because I could see the bridge, the river’s edge and the park and I watched as his
figure grew smaller and smaller as he walked down toward the spot on the river at which he’d last seen “Kim.” Throughout the graying of the day, I waited for his return. About the time I was ready to go hunting for my better half, I saw the top of his head climbing slowly up the horizon. He had an ethereal smile on his face that almost convinced me he might have actually found Miss Novak or her ghost somewhere beyond where I could see. But alas, it was not to be. It was just a little park in Kansas on my birthday a few hundred miles from our own front door and the memory of something special from a very long time ago when he was almost 17. And as the McGuire Sisters sang, “On a picnic morning without a warning I looked at you and somehow I knew. . . now when days grow stormy and lonely for me, I just recall picnic time and you.” I’m glad he found her but he’s still mine over 50 years later.
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we've missed you ! summer schedule: Open tuesday - sunday, closed mondays
Photos by Kathy Peaster
World-Class Museum Historic Lodge Home Walking Trails Mountain Man Camp
Bison, Elk, Deer, Zebra, Water Buć˜€alo, and More Facilities for Weddings, Parties, and Corporate Events
1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road | Bartlesville, OK 74003 | woolaroc.org |
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ON THE OSAGE
Shootin’ from the Hip Plenty of Stars Shined Through the Coronavirus Rodeo by Kelly Bland To be a hospitality-loving tourism director in the midst of a social distancing pandemic seems like an oxymoron of sorts. Imagine — it’s your job to invite folks to come for a visit. You specialize in marketing to the masses with creative effectiveness to stir desire in the recipients — a desire to venture out of their comfort zones and come explore all this beautiful territory up here in Northeastern Oklahoma. And then suddenly, the order of the day and the “unnormal” normal of the hour is to stay home and stay away. Keep your social distance. Well, what’s a girl to KELLY BLAND do in a situation like that??? It’s in moments like these when you have to pull your boots up, take a deep seat, nod your head, and let ‘er buck. It’s been a wild ride these past few months — for more than just the tourism gal. I think most would agree; it’s been quite a rodeo. Come with me, if you will, behind the chutes. I want to give you a little VIP access to some champions in this arena. First, meet Mr. Bob Fraser, the saddle bronc champion from out at Frank Phillips’ little spread, better known as Woolaroc. Bob took great care in making sure his saddle was cinched up tight, and then he climbed right up onto the back of a snorting bronc that men half his age couldn’t ride. During the midst of this pendulum of pandemic pandemonium, Bob swung the gates of Woolaroc open wide and let anyone and everyone onto the ranch for his now-famous, Free Wednesday Drive Thru’s. The very first Wednesday, cars were backed up for miles waiting to get in as folks left their homes and enjoyed the views at the ranch from the social distancing safety of their automobiles. Hands down, ‘Ol Bob has the highest tally and he did it while riding King Corona. He’s a Top Hand for sure.
little video you might enjoy. You can find it on the Osage County Tourism YouTube channel. It’s called #OkAreYouReadyForThis? Next, if you’ll climb over this pipe fence, we’ll make our way under the announcer’s stand to where Mr. Cody Garnett is gathering up his gear. He’s a tough one of sorts. Now with Cody, it’s not broncs or barrels, it’s bulls that he dominates. Why, when so many were fearing the worst and walking away, Cody mounted this situation and took the bull by the horns. Instead of cowering, he was courageous and began enlarging and expanding The Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum in Pawhuska and has it open back up to the public bigger and better than it was before. Cody made it to the buzzer, rode the full 8, kept on spurring, then dismounted in style. He definitely can collect his check at the end of this one.
Before we go, let’s climb on up into the announcer’s box, just As I’m trying to keep you out of the manure, come this way, before the stands clear out, and the fat lady sings. I’ve got a little and let’s meet Maria Gus, Bartlesville’s own Belle of the Ball at something to share. If we’ll lift our eyes and turn our gaze away the Bartlesville CVB – and the best from the spotlight in the arena for barrel racer in the Covid19 Jackpot just a moment and look towards the www.VisitTheOsage.com Series. Maria has handled every horizon past the rodeo grounds, fast-paced turn with the precision of you’ll see beautiful Osage County, Upcoming Events: a professional. Not once has she Oklahoma — where the grass toppled a can or bit the dust. Focus Osage County Cattlemen’s Ranch Tour grows tall, the bison still roam out is her secret weapon, and she keeps Saturday, June 20, 2020 - Pawhuska on the open range, neighbors are her head better than most. Every still helping neighbors, and Cavalcade Amateur Rodeo time I get the chance, I study her #TheSmilesAreAlwaysFree. I hope July 13-19, 2020 - Pawhuska style and admire her skill. Maria is this put one on your face today. Our one to “draw to in a wreck.” She is a best days are yet to come. Y’all Tallgrass Music Festival keeper for sure, in my books. During come see us in the Osage! August 14 & 15, 2020 - Skiatook this rodeo, we social-distanced out a JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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C C B A R T L E SV I L L E .C O M 58
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MEET YOUR WRITER
Maria Gus “Bartlesville’s Best Friend” Does A Little Bit of Everything by Tim Hudson If there’s anyone in Bartlesville that needs no introduction, it should be Maria Gus. Gal about town, Jill of all trades, always in the know, having fun wherever she is. No hyperbole at all. If you don’t know her you should ... oh, and she writes for bmonthly, too. So there’s that. Former classmate Russell Vaclaw, who most people now know as Associate District Judge Vaclaw, feels that her contribution to our fair city can’t be overstated. “I can't imagine what Bartlesville would be like without her. She is Bartlesville's best friend,” he said. “I don't think anyone realizes just how much she does for Bartlesville. She loves this place. It is, and always will be, her home. She sells it every day to anyone and everyone.” The short version is that Maria is the executive director of Visit Bartlesville, a position she’s held since 2008. In that capacity, she has worked to increase economic development in Bartlesville by marketing to leisure and group travelers. She also works with tourism partners to enhance the experience for all visitors, including those in the leisure, business and sports markets.
She said that Bartlesville native, and now legendary director, Terrance Malick was a trendsetter in the film capacity. “I will always be grateful to Terrence Malick for returning to Bartlesville to make a film. His project set our community up for a decade of incredible opportunities. I hope we have a few decades more,” she said. “I've said this 100 times since [To the Wonder Location Manager] John Patterson first put it to me this way. ‘A film in your community is like having a convention.’ Instead of 2 or 3 days we get them for 2 or 3 months. That means great tax revenue for our area. Building relationships with film makers has been a definite highlight of my career.” And better for the entire town. “Maria is very talented,” said Ward 4 Bartlesville City Council member Alan Gentges. “She’s a member of our community, whether it be leading the visitors bureau or her involvement in the arts. I count us lucky to have her in Bartlesville and count myself lucky to be her friend.”
During her tenure with Visit Bartlesville, the city has been recognized by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association with Redbud Awards for Best Social Media Campaign and Oklahoma’s Tourism Organization of the Year, along with an additional Merit Award for Social Media. Plus, she was instrumental in having Bartlesville chosen as a base for recent movies To the Wonder, August Osage County, Starbrite, and of course that Scorsese one coming up. Good stuff all around. “I've met some incredible people over the last 10 years working with film. Some I'm still in touch with today. The best of them are kind, hardworking people who truly care about making sure the production leaves a positive impression on the community,” Maria said. “The actors are always exciting to meet, but the crew are the ones who really make things happen.”
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111 SE Beck, Bartlesville 918-333-3248
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all merchandise *Excludes labor and gift certificates
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Loans subject to credit approval
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Member FDIC
DISCOVER DEWEY
The Steel Rails of Dewey Railroads & Depots Played a Big Role in Early Dewey by Jay Hastings In the early 20th century, the main source of long-distance transportation was by rail. Throughout the country, towns often competed to have a line build through their locations. Sometimes, whole communities were moved overnight to be positioned next to a railroad. It was at that time two separate railroads were built through Washington County and towns began to form along the lines. By 1897, the railroads had already reached Caney, Kansas. The Kansas, Oklahoma & Central Southwestern Railroad began grading south of Caney into what was then Indian Territory. That line, built to Dewey, was in operation by 1899 and under the control of the Santa Fe Railroad. The Santa Fe built a small wooden depot along the east side of the tracks, just south of Main Street, known now as Don Tyler Avenue. Soon, a Santa Fe Railroad Hotel was built just east of the depot along the south side of Don Tyler, where many a weary traveler stayed. A 1912 newspaper advertisement boasted the Santa Fe Railroad Hotel had “good rooms” and the “best meals served in the city.” At the time, Dewey was served by six daily trains. Residents could board at the depot on Main Street and travel to towns between Tulsa and Kansas City, Missouri. In 1971, the Santa Fe passenger trains were discontinued on the Tulsa-toKansas City line. The Santa Fe depot was dismantled in 1975, and only a trace of the brick passenger platform remains today. The second railroad to build through Dewey was the Missouri Kansas & Texas, commonly referred to as the “MKT” or “Katy” Railroad. This line opened in 1903, and soon Dewey residents were also connected by rail between Oklahoma City and Parsons, Kansas. The MKT Depot was located on the northwest side of the tracks, between Wyandotte and Don Tyler Avenue. Passenger trains ran direct from Dewey to Parsons to the north and Oklahoma City to the south. The MKT tracks merged with the Santa Fe line at a place called “DY JCT” on the westside of Bartles Road (123 Highway)
and Braham Street. The MKT had trackage rights to run over the Santa Fe line into Bartlesville to a point just south of Adams Boulevard called “BE JCT.” The MKT trains then left the Santa Fe tracks and turned southwest, on a quite scenic route through the Osage towards Oklahoma City. In 1912, there were eight daily trains through Dewey on the MKT. The MKT line to Oklahoma City was abandoned in 1977, just south of Bartlesville. The MKT tracks between Dewey and Coffeyville were removed in the mid 1980s. Railroads often built larger Union Station-style depots in the county seats. By 1910, in response to repeated citizen demands, the Santa Fe built a large depot in Bartlesville. Known as Bartlesville Union Station, it served both the Santa Fe and MKT Railroads. Dewey, the second largest community in Washington County, was served by the same two rail lines and was unique in the fact it hosted separate, smaller wooden depots for each line. Depots played a big role in the function of communities, including service of mail and telegrams. Depots were often the first sights of travelers when arriving in a community, and visitors to town were often told to register at the depot. That way, if telegrams came in for them, the depot agent would know where to deliver the messages. Though no longer used for passenger service, Dewey still has an active rail line through town, with approximately one freight train a day. The Santa Fe and MKT Railroads are long gone and the line is operated by a short-line company called the South Kansas & Oklahoma. A lot of things in the transportation world have changed over the past 120 years. The next time you hear a train horn or get stuck at a crossing waiting on a train, take a minute to reflect on the history behind the machines that roll by on the steel rails. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Are You Ready For
Summer?
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TRUSTED SINCE 1968
709 NE WASHINGTON BLVD. BARTLESVILLE, OK 74006 | EARNESTHEATANDAIR.COM
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TRIBUTE
Terrel Taylor Bartlesville Businessman Spent a Lifetime Giving by Brent Taylor Grace Taylor named her firstborn son for the boy next door, Terrel Bluejacket, the grandson of the town’s namesake, Chief Bluejacket. One became an outlaw, while the other became a homebuilder. Their paths diverged when young Taylor moved to Bartlesville shortly after graduating from Bluejacket High School. After stints at Central Christian College, Reda Pump, and Leonard Printing, he built his first home on Meadowlark Lane. He went on to build over 1,000 quality homes in Bartlesville. This tradition of excellence began in 1958 and continued with the help of his father, wife, employees, subcontractors, and customers. More than 60 years later, after Terrel’s death on April 19, 2020, the legacy of Taylor Homes continues. I’ve been working more than 30 years with my dad, and I will miss him. Terrel Taylor’s parents operated a grocery store in Bluejacket in the midst of the Great Depression. His views about life were colored by hard times. Terrel was a horse trader in the golden age of cars. He once bought a Ford Model-A for $75 and sold it the next day for $150. Taylor Homes foreman Chuck Martz said of Terrel, “He was an honest businessman and was always helping people.” Long-time framing subcontractor for Taylor Homes, Chad Crawford, said when he thinks of Taylor Homes the word that comes to mind is “quality.” We’ve received many notes from people since dad’s death, saying that he was a man of faith and integrity, that he helped them get a start in business, or that they simply love the home he built for them. Terrel and Charlotte began serving with the Dewey Church of Christ in 1963, and Charlotte is still a member there. In addition to building homes, Terrel also traded a lot of cars — often to give a vehicle to a missionary, family member, or someone in need. He didn’t boast about these good deeds and generosity to his church and community, but simply wanted to be remembered as a person who loved God and loved people. Terrel had a way of telling stories with a wry grin and wonderful timing. One of his favorite stories happened at Adams Golf Course on a summer day, as he was waiting for the greenskeeper to finish watering the green and roll up his hose. Terrel slapped
the ball toward the green with his 4-wood while the greenskeeper looked on in disbelief. The ball caught the hose, which was wrapped around the pin. Traveling along the edge of the hose, it went into the hole for a “hose in one.” Terrel loved maps, highways, and vacations. He knew how to fold a road map with one hand, and took the curves up Pikes Peak on two wheels. He loved the feel of the road beneath him, even in his
final days. As caregivers eased him into his wheelchair with great effort, he would sing Willie Nelson’s iconic song, On the Road Again. Terrel shared life and accomplishments with his wife of 65 years, Charlotte. He was very grateful to his loving wife for constant, tender care. Not long before he passed on, Terrel was restless as Charlotte tried to understand his words. Terrel said, “Do you have three hands?” Charlotte said, “Pretty sure I don’t. Both of my hands are touching you here.” Terrel replied, “I feel a third hand on the other side.” Maybe it was the hand of Jesus. Or perhaps just that old longing to get in the car and drive. Shortly after that conversation, Terrel was gone. Perhaps he was singing On the Road Again. He never lost his heart, his humor, or his connection to those he loved. Referring to these last years of his life as the “ninth inning,” Terrel encouraged everyone to make the most of the one life we’ve been given. ~ Brent Taylor is the owner of Taylor Homes and continues to build quality custom homes in Bartlesville. You can reach him at (918) 331-6002 or brenttaylor11@gmail.com. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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Honey's Flowers for all your special events! JOHNSTONE SARE BUILDING 100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd Bartlesville 918-333-8181
Back in the Saddle Again! Dine In and Carry Out Available! New dine in hours! Restaurant: Mon - Sat 11a - 9p Bar: 11a - 10p
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Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Saturday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Sun Closed
Sandra Brown, Administrator
Affordable apartments where you can enjoy new friends and feel right at home!
We have independent living apartments available to rent for those ages 55 or older. All apartments are unfurnished, 1 bedroom, $850 per month and include: • • • • •
All utilities paid; including basic cable 24-hour emergency response Fully equipped kitchen Patio with sliding glass door Restaurant-style dining or you can have meals delivered directly to your apartment • Planned activities; to include regularly scheduled happy hour • Scheduled transportation for shopping
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Housekeeping On-site laundry On-site beauty shop Daily exercise classes offered Year-round building & grounds maintenance Interior maintenance Pet-friendly
3434 Kentucky Place • 918-333-9545 • www.bartlesvillehealthandrehab.com JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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We Love Bartlesville
www.coppercupimages.com
9183372781
STUMPFF 66
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KNOWING NOWATA
Early Beginnings A Look at How Nowata Was Founded in Indian Territory by Carrol Craun The town we know as Nowata, Oklahoma, had its beginnings in the Cooweescoowee District of Indian Territory, when a group of adventurers settled in the area in 1868, close to what was called California Creek. The name given to the small settlements was California Station, later changed to Metz on November 1, 1887, honoring its first postmaster, Fred Metzner. The final change came on November 8, 1889, when it was renamed Nowata. The meaning of the name Nowata is Cherokee/Delaware for ‘welcome.‘ The Iron Mountain Railroad had completed a portion of its route and established a depot here. A fun fact is there is no other town in the United States with the name “Nowata’. Fred Metzner is known as the ‘father’ of Nowata, since he built the first structure — a combined post office and trading post — which was located across from the original depot. The first load of merchandise to arrive in what was Metz was delivered by then-marshal James Gibson. The materials were for Fred Metzner. He employed a surveyor to help lay out the town and began to beautify the barren lands with Catalpa trees. It is also at this post office that the first mail was thrown off by F. L. Berrian, on February 2, 1891, on the mail route from Coffeyville via Metz to Coody’s Bluff and on to Claremore. Not long after this, J.E. Campbell, Jake Bartles, and W.V. Carey built a second store, which later became the site of the Carey Hotel. Over the years, millions of dollars changed hands in the Carey, Savoy, and Campbell Hotels related to oil and gas businesses. Campbell, along with Jake Bartles, would also open businesses in Bartlesville and Pawhuska. Catastrophic fires between 1892 and 1910 destroyed a good part of the wooden buildings in town, including structures owned by Campbell, Barndollar, Carey, and others. This resulted in the building of a brick plant, a much more durable building material. The plant also provided bricks used to build roads in the area.
On November 23, 1893, Nowata was incorporated under Cherokee Tribal Law Senate Bill No. 5, giving the area the same powers, privileges, and restrictions as the Town of Fort Gibson. The bill was signed by Cherokee Council President Richard M. Wolf and Tribal Chief C. J. Harris. The Cherokee Nation laid out the one-squaremile town site of Nowata. This was later reduced to 320 acres by the federal government. Plots of land were auctioned with little interest shown in the activity, until the discovery of oil in the Alluwe field in 1904 created a high demand for property ownership. In the one-square-mile area, plots were allocated for schools, churches, and a cemetery. The town was later incorporated under federal law in 1898, with Ben Scoville elected the first Mayor. Looking to the future, founding fathers proceeded to build a courthouse, making Nowata the temporary county seat in 1904. Following a heated and sometimes violent debate and election between the communities of Delaware and Nowata in 1908, Nowata became the official seat. The fire of 1910 destroyed the courthouse located on the third floor of the First National Bank, along with all of its records. A new courthouse was constructed and completed in 1912; it is still in use and was listed on the National Record of Historic Places in 1984. Lots of friction existed between those favoring Cherokee Law and Federal Law resulting in a shoot out between a federal marshal and a Cherokee marshal, leading to the death of the Cherokee officer and
his brother. The federal marshal was sentenced to federal prison but was later pardoned by President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt actually visited Nowata on April 26, 1912. The discovery of the shallow oil fields around Nowata, the largest in the world at that time, lead to increased population, booms in business and the need for more housing. Many were living in tents due to the lack of houses or places to rent. New banks appeared with the need for places to deposit funds and oil companies were formed. Many made fortunes and many were not so lucky. The Glass, Harmon, Whitehill companies and others became leaders in the oil industry. The discovery of uranium also drew prospectors to the area and radium found in the water resulted in Nowata becoming a Mecca for those with illnesses. The radium baths proved to be very popular for a period of time. The Savoy Hotel still has a sign on its walls leading down to the radium baths in its basement. Nowata has experienced many winds of change, boom years, and lean years, with thriving business and then the decline in them over time due to migration of residents and loss of industry with the arrival of stores such as Walmart that resulted in the closing of a number of small businesses. There is hope on the horizon as Nowata sees the return of residents, many seeking a rural way of life, and businesses looking for a new location. Only time will tell its future.
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MORE INFORMATION jefffesler2020@gmail.com Facebook: Jeff Fesler For Sheriff 2020
29th ANNUAL DEWEY ANTIQUE SHOW AND SALE Saturday, June 6, 2020, 8AM - 5PM* Washington County Fair Building 1109 Delaware St, Dewey, OK 74029 CONTACT INFORMATION: Leah 918-440-3375 or Gail 918-440-5200
100 BOOTHS, DEALERS FROM 6 STATES. GREAT VARIETY OF TREASURES & PRICES!
Advertising, quilts, decorating, paper, glass, pottery, furniture, country, retro, western, primitive, toys, linens, books, post cards, holiday, mercantile, vintage & more! LARGEST 1-DAY SHOW IN THE AREA. SEE IT ALL UNDER ONE ROOF! Food, music, and demonstrations available during the day.
Admission $4 Sponsored by & like our Facebook Page antiquecollectibleassociation * Date subject to change. Check our Facebook page for updates. 68
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ANNUAL EVENTS
Antique Show On Tap Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale Set for June 6 The 29th Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale will be held Saturday, June 6 at the Washington County Fair Building in Dewey, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with a $4 admission charge. This one-day show is sponsored by the Antique and Collectible Association, a nonprofit organization with the objective to further the interest of antiques and collectibles in Washington County by promoting member businesses, shops, and shows. This one-day show began in 1991, with Gloria “Gordy” Hamlin as manager, and has grown to be one of the largest with over 100 booths and dealers from six states. With a great reputation in this area, the show is a fun day to visit and shop the variety of miniGORDY HAMLIN shops under one roof and learn the history of items you buy or already own. All dealers are very knowledgeable of their wares. You may find that one-of-a-kind treasure you have been looking for, and with a good variety to choose from there is something for everyone. Items range from the hard-to-find to that special piece of jewelry you must simply have. Some items include advertising memorabilia and signs, Western antiques, quilts, oil company memorabilia, furniture, mid-century, country, glass, holiday, silver, linens, photos, primitive, postcards, Pyrex glass, pottery, retro, turquoise jewelry, fishing and hunting items, and so much more.
11 a.m. to 1p.m., performing all kinds of music with a good blend of stringed instruments, including the dulcimer. The Genealogical Society will be present to provide helpful hints on how to research your family history, and the Lace Guild will also demonstrate lace making and other handwork. This Annual Dewey Antique Show is the Antique and Collectible Association’s only fundraiser. The $4.00 admission is good for all day and provides the Antique and Collectibles Association the opportunity to donate 98% of the funds to help support civic projects within Washington County. Projects have included scholarships for Seniors in Washington County, Dewey Hotel, Tom Mix Museum, Dewey Visitor’s Center, Salvation Army’s Christmas Stocking Program, Clothes Closet for Dewey Elementary and Jane Phillips Schools, Washington County Friends of
the Free Fair, Bartlesville Blue Star Moms, Bartlesville Kiddie Park, and City of Dewey Fireworks, to name a few. Membership to the Association is open to anyone interested in learning about antiques, obtaining a greater knowledge of their collectibles, and enjoying fellowship. The Association dues are $12.00 per calendar year, and the group meets in Dewey on the 4th Tuesday of each month. For more information visit the association’s Facebook page. The Annual Dewey Antique Show and Sale is always held on the first Saturday in June at the Washington County Fair Building, located at 1109 N. Delaware, in Dewey, just two blocks west of U.S. Highway 75. To reserve a booth, please contact Leah Everhart at 918-440-3375 or Gail Inman at 918-333-5200
You may be a collector, decorator, a beginner or just appreciate antiques, and there will be a variety of prices and items. Some dealers travel to shows regularly and some only do this one show, there may also be an estate liquidation or new dealer booths to browse. In the north room of the fairground building, Bambinos Restaurant will have breakfast, lunch, and desserts available. This year, the Joyful Strings will play from JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK
by Jay Webster “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” As a junior at OU, I remember Howard Beale yelling those iconic words during the screening of “Network” in my Film Studies Class to the delight of all the students. Truth be told, we didn’t have a lot to be mad about at that point, except that we were on our third football coach in as many years. (Gibbs, Schnellenberger, Blake … those were dark times, friends.) Even so, when Beale released his explosion of outrage at the human condition during the fall of the Consumer Age, we felt a tremendous emotional release. It defined a problem and then dropped a wrecking ball in the hopes that the heaps and piles of rubble would lead us to another beginning. That without the
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. . . I Guess obstacle of our dysfunctional institutions in our way, we might create something better, or at least try. We sat in that dark hall our fall semester without popcorn (that’s what we should have been mad about) watching a movie almost 20 years after its release and felt liberated. Anger was the proper response to a world abusing its power by holding down the many to lift up the few, all while pacifying them with cheap merchandise. We got onboard the outrage train. Then a funny thing happened on the way to 2020: Rage became vogue. Now there are so many fashionable things to be mad about — political parties, climate change, all-day breakfast menus, pandemics, have and have nots, full Adele and thin Adele … Maybe the problem is when we fight about everything, every-
FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK thing starts to lose its value. After a while, all the yelling starts to sound the same. It’s like we’ve decided that rage is the only appropriate response for all scenarios. (PS. I know the psychedelic 60s didn’t solve a lot, but I could use a Summer of Love right now … from a proper social distance, of course.) Essentially, anger has become the fast food of emotions. It’s cheap, it’s quick and once you develop a taste for it it’s hard to quit. As a culture, anger has become our emotional first responder, regardless of the situation. A couple of weeks ago, I was mowing (in isolation). I will admit I wasn’t wearing a mask, because I was alone and to be honest, I was just tired of smelling my own breath. After a couple of carefully manicured rows, I started thinking about something or someone (I couldn’t even tell you what it was) and I literally got angry enough that I started to have a fantasy conversation. You know, the ones where you tell someone just how wrong they are and how right you are and — because it’s in your mind — they bow to your superior intellect, change their point of view, and validate you as being right. At least that’s the way it goes in my mind. You may have a different victory dance in your own fantasies. Right now, anger feels like a poison ivy rash. God, it feels good to scratch it — to explode on someone, and release that flood of emotion — but in the end you’re just spreading the rash and making it take longer to heal. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when anger is absolutely the right response. But contrary to my fantasy conversations, I have never lost it on someone only to have them turn to me and say “You know, you’re right. You’ve convinced me by your shaming and demeaning words that I am indeed wrong. I will change my ways.” Rage, it seems, only pushes people into a corner. Once you’re in a corner, most of us start to fight back. It’s not the place of emotional growth. Maybe there’s another (more effective) option. (PSS. I hate the fact that this column has taken on the tone of someone “old enough to learn life lessons.” For Godsakes … How did I get old enough to look back?) Since you asked, I do think there’s a counterbalance to outrage, and it’s not hippie dippy lovefests. It’s empathy.
moving currents of people flooding public areas again. And, if you were at risk of losing your job or company or not being able to feed your family, you were freaked just as much about not reopening. Both came down to fear. And, since outrage has become the new normal for our culture, that’s how we responded. We protested and shouted and wrote snarky social media posts (because it felt good to scratch at the poison ivy). We continued in our suspicions of the other side, the “thems.” We have become a people less concerned with the pursuit of truth and only the pursuit of supporting evidence for our truth. That’s dangerous. Especially when there are so many things we could be mad at together! Like how we keep using the phrase, “dirt cheap.” Have you priced a bag of soil lately? There’s nothing cheap about it. We could be rallying against our common enemy, Daylight Savings Time. How long will we let this monumental failure continue? Turn back time … or don’t. Just pick one. What about the fact that my eight year old thinks the school year is over at Spring Break from now on. Jesus take the wheel. Or how about the fact that Nickelback is still legally allowed to put out music. These are crimes against humanity. Fight the power, people! All I’m saying is, outrage isn’t working. It’s not bringing about change. And you’re not winning the battle to change people’s minds. So let’s try something else. See where empathy takes you. It can’t be worse than the “new normal.” In the meanwhile, can we convene some kind of nationwide summit? Let’s agree to keep the slower pace of the pandemic and maybe some of the quarantine habits too. I liked working from home some and seeing my family more and watching the neighbors out walking. Can we get by with doing less? And I’m just free thinking here, but maybe we should social distance Christmas and the holidays? Do you know how much easier it is to stay away from fudge when you’re just Zoom visiting your relatives? It’s just a thought people, don’t get angry. Anyway, it was nice talking with you again. Let’s all try to listen more and shout less this month. I’ll see you back here in July. Cheers.
Empathy is a lost art in America. Empathy is different than its cousin, sympathy. Sympathy allows you to feel bad for someone from a distance. (Bless their heart…) Empathy requires you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a minute in order to understand their perspective, suffering, or emotional state. It doesn’t require you to agree with them or adopt their beliefs, only to understand without judgement why they believe or feel the way they do. As states around the nation began to “re-open,” a (sometimes violent) clash occurred between sides. As far as I could tell, which side you were on closely followed what part of the crisis you were most connected to over the last few months. If you were on the frontlines of the thousands upon thousands of people who lost their lives in mere weeks, you were generally anxious about swift
JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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GREEN SPACE
Space is a Breath of Art Tower Center at Unity Square to Offer Beautiful Venue by Maria Gus Over four years ago, the idea of a new green space in downtown Bartlesville was nothing more than a vision. Today, after months of meetings, renderings, discussions, community input, and a lot of cooperation, Tower Center at Unity Square is a reality. Many key players have been critical to the forward movement of the project in that time. After Scott Ambler of Ambler Architects first presented the idea to the Bartlesville Community Center Trust Authority, a green space committee was created. BCC Managing Director Val Callaghan has also been critical as the keeper of all green space information. Between sub-committees, a partnership with Price Tower and the city of Bartlesville, and hosting public input forums, the road to Unity Square has been full of twists and turns. The staff and volunteers involved believe the journey will definitely be worth the wait.
at www.unitysquarebville.com or follow the green space on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
“It makes me happy that Bartlesville not only wanted to do this, but they voted to make it happen,” said Callaghan. “It wouldn’t have been possible if they hadn’t seen the vision.” Callaghan praised the many groups that came together to collaborate. She pointed out the work of many people has created a beautiful space that will be very usable.
BCC staff are also hoping to have a grand opening event in the first half of July. Volunteers are also planning a virtual grand opening to highlight the many features of the space, including the stage, the interactive art pieces, and the beautiful landscaping.
Bartlesville residents have already seen many of the final pieces coming together for Tower Center at Unity Square. Finishing touches like trash cans and bike racks came together in the final weeks of construction. Various organizations have also started to schedule events for July, August, and September. The ever-popular Food Truck Monday plans to return June 1 and Bartlesville Public Library has also scheduled free exercise classes for the space. The library also plans to kick off their summer reading program at the green space in June. While Bartlesville continues to ease restrictions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Tower Center at Unity Square has proven to bring just the right combination of community and space that residents need. Those interested in learning more about the space and upcoming events are encouraged to check out the new website
Downtown favorites like the HOT Street Party and OKM Music Festival have been rescheduled for later in the year and plan to make good use of the urban park. For Callaghan, she looks forward to finally seeing people on the big lawn and hearing children playing with the large musical instruments. “I want to especially recognize the Trust Authority, particularly the management committee and the design committee,” said Callaghan. “I am truly grateful for the collaboration, the city of Bartlesville, Scott Ambler, and everyone working together.” Also collaborating on the project is Price Tower Arts Center. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed building plans to open its new Price Tower Plaza cafe on June 5. “It is truly a great opportunity for the Price Tower to have plaza dining right next to the Tower and the beautiful Unity Square,” said Rick Loyd, executive director of the Price Tower. Loyd says Price Tower Plaza plans to have a brand new fast casual dining menu, which will also include children’s menu items. “We’ll be open seven days a week from 11 am - 9 pm,” said Loyd,. “We plan to feature specialty drinks, adult beverages, and soft drinks for anyone visiting the park.” For more information on scheduling at Tower Center at Unity Square, be sure to contact the Bartlesville Community Center at www.bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com or call 918-337-2787. Tower Center at Unity Square hopes to fully embody Frank Lloyd Wright’s words that “Space is a Breath of Art”. JUNE 2020 | b Monthly
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FRESH PERSPECTIVE
A Quieter Earth Perhaps this Period of Quarantine has Brought Us Closer by Brent Taylor If you were teleported into this moment from one year prior, without knowing any current events, and you took a walk about your neighborhood, what would you think? My neighborhood these days is teeming with non-technology. Scooters and bikes, dog walkers and joggers, kids fishing and playing ball. It reminds me of my youth, when I could step outside my front door and sense the gentle hum of life. My brother Greg mentioned that there are more children and parents having a catch these days. Greg and I scrambled to find a baseball and two mitts. We found a baseball but only one mitt, so our catch was a bit one-sided and peppered with the crackling sound of aging rotator cuffs. Perhaps this period of quarantine has actually brought us closer and “having a catch” is back in vogue. Is our collective human metabolism slower in this strange moment? It turns out a quarantine was once known by the name trentino. After Black Death ripped through Europe, officials in what is now Croatia established a 30-day period called trentino for ships arriving from plague-affected areas. Cities later extended the isolation period from 30 to 40 days, and the term changed from trentino to quarantino—the root of the English word quarantine that we use today. Many Biblical stories draw upon the number 40. Noah drifted in an ark 40 days, Moses fled Egypt for 40 years and was on Mount Sinai 40 days, the Exodus lasted 40 years, Jesus fasted 40 days … some theologians think that the number 40 represents change or a time of preparing a person or people to make a fundamental change. This hits home for me when I look at a picture my 76
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son shared of his tiny home outside Norman, Oklahoma. The earth seems quieter these days, the sky bluer. Some scientists believe our earth is quieter since the advent of social distancing. This “quieter” Earth during protective self-quarantine has reduced the ambient seismic noise. Essentially, our jets, cars, voices, and the machinery of modern life has idled down to a soft hum as we travel less, gather less, and make less commotion.
Caroline Delbert writes in Popular Mechanics about how seismologists are able to read seismic measurements with much more clarity since the world has gone on quarantine. The resulting stay-athome quietude allows scientists to hear seismic noise louder and clearer than before, as if you were once in a room with several conversations but now you only hear one person talking. During quarantine, like a computer resetting or a river flushing itself of pollution, we rest and reset and revitalize, vegetation seems greener, the air perhaps is cleaner and brighter, and the Earth is at rest for the first time in many years. So, enjoy this strange time of sabbath rest. Even if you are still hard at work, stop for a moment and listen to the joy of a quieter, more restful historical moment … Oh, did I mention the year? 20+20 is 40
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